The incredible story of a flood of near-Biblical proportions–its destruction, its heroes and victims, and how it shaped America’s natural-disaster policies for the next century.
The storm began March 23, 1913, with a series of tornadoes that killed 150 people and injured 400. Then the freezing rains started and the flooding began. It continued for days. Some people drowned in their attics, … drowned in their attics, others on the roads when they tried to flee. It was the nation’s most widespread flood ever–more than 700 people died, hundreds of thousands of homes and buildings were destroyed, and millions were left homeless. The destruction extended far beyond the Ohio valley to Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and Vermont. Fourteen states in all, and every major and minor river east of the Mississippi.
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Geoff Williams’s Washed Away is an in-depth look at the massive floods that decimated the U.S., in particular the middle part of the country, in early 1913. Williams works through the days chronologically, and often the hours within each day. This style took a little getting used to; it had the advantage of being incredibly orderly and organized, …
A collection of experiences connected to the great flood. Not what I was expecting. I was expecting a description of the flood, it’s causes and historical implications.
Excellent book on something few know about.
I grew up in
Dayton and knew about the flood in Dayton but didn’t know how widespread the flooding was. The author obviously did a mass of research.
True story of a disaster that happened around the turn of the 20th Century. Like the well-known sinking of the Titanic, this is also a tragic story. But it is one that most people are unaware of.
I really love history and appreciated learning about this huge event in Ohio history. My Grandfather talked about it, and I read his history from 1913. Nicely detailed stories, and never boring! If you like disaster movies or books like The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough, you’ll like this.
Good writing, great picture of history and an event that shaped disaster response today. Reminded me of how some will always respond to help, like in the Houston flood, but here they had no communication or for warning.
Great research and well presented. Great book about American history
This chronicles a part of US history that is often overlooked. Interesting and very readable.
My only criticism is the author’s need to make personal 2017-type comments when telling a story about 1913. I would recommend he read some of David McCullough’s histories before his next book…which i hope he writes. However, the actual facts seem to be the genuine article and the tension is carefully built and fully tragic. Human hubris rides …
As entertaining as “Isaac’s Storm” by Erik Larson