The Johnstown Flood: Core Events of a Deadly Disaster

In May 1889, the steel mill town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was devastatingly flooded when the South Fork Dam burst and a man-made, two-mile-long lake “was completely drained of water in about 45 minutes.” Many believed the dam’s owners—including businessmen Andrew Carnegie and Andrew Mellon—were to blame due to careless maintenance. This engaging account explains the causes and aftereffects of the disaster and briefly describes similar, more recent floods, such as the destruction of New Orleans after levees burst during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Each spread features captioned period photographs and artwork; interesting facts, anecdotes, or eyewitness accounts are frequently set off from the main text. A map and a time line add context and further visual appeal. Bolded words are defined both throughout the book and in the glossary. Back matter also contains a link to publisher-approved Web sites, questions for critical thinking using the Common Core, suggestions for further reading, and an index.