Misfortunate Monday: The Children's Blizzard of 1888

     Hello everybody and welcome back to another edition of Nations Made Fun! I'll be your host, Mr. Nations, your tour guide to this massive world of ours! Today on Misfortunate Monday, we'll be taking a look at the Children's Blizzard of 1888, the deadliest blizzard to hit the U.S. Well, what are we waiting for? Let's dive straight into it!

     The Children's Blizzard got its name from the many children that died trying to return home after the blizzard struck their schoolhouses on January 12th, 1888. Although it wasn't the most extreme blizzard to strike the area, it was the deadliest, with 235 deaths, most of which being children.

     Despite the blizzard-like conditions, many reported that weather was unusually nice for the area. Many farmers, noticing this odd change, kept their children home from school and prepared for the onslaught of ice and sleet. Many, however, didn't bother to keep their children home and sent them to school in shorts.

     Although it was the 1800's, many people should have been a little keener on the signs of a disaster. Luckily we have blizzard safety protocols to protect us from the horrors the children of the Children's Blizzard had to endure.

     Picture of the Children's Blizzard 

     

     Sources: https://www.weather.gov/unr/1888-01-12