311: The Great Flood of 1889. Johnstown Flood National Memorial.

Editors Note and Content Warning: This episode was recorded in June before the devastating floods that took place in Texas on July 4th. Listeners should be aware that this episode includes descriptions of mass death, including children. Please take care while listening. Our hearts are with the families and communities affected by the floods. For more information about how to help the survivors and families impacted by the Texas floods please see: 

• The American Red Cross
• Kerr County Flood Relief Fund
• TEXSAR
• Additional organizations can be found here.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Text or call 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. 

On May 31, 1889, a wall of water tore through the valley town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, killing more than 2,000 people in minutes. It was the deadliest single-day loss of civilian life in U.S. history — until 9/11. This is the story of how the South Fork Dam failed, how the flood devastated an entire city, and how the American Red Cross stepped in.

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Sources:

• The Johnstown Flood, by David McCullough (1968).
• Johnstown Flood, film (1926).
• “Statistics About the Great Disaster,” from the Johnstown Flood Museum.
• “The Johnstown Flood of 1889,” from the Johnstown Flood Museum.
• “Run for Your Lives! The Johnstown Flood of 1889,” by the National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior.
• “Case Study: South Fork Dam (Pennsylvania, 1889),” by the Association of State Dam Safety Officials.
• “The Great Johnstown Flood - May 31, 1889,” by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.

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