The Johnstown flood occurred on Friday, May 31st, 1889 after the catastrophic failure of the South Fork Dam, located on the south fork of the Little Conemaugh River, 14 miles upstream of the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The dam broke after several days of heavy rainfall, releasing 14.55 million cubic meters of water. The flood killed more than 2,200 people and accounted for $17 million of damage.
The American Red Cross, led by Clara Barton and with 50 volunteers, undertook a major disaster relief effort. Support for victims came from all over the United States and 18 foreign countries. After the flood, survivors suffered a series of legal defeats in their attempts to recover damages from the dam's owners. Public indignation at that failure prompted the development in American law changing a fault-based regime to one of strict liability.
Fun Facts:
- At the time, the Johnstown flood was considered the largest loss of civilian lives in the United States.
- The death toll was originally calculated at 2,209 people.
- The Galveston tornado was the next worst disaster, occurring in 1900.
Aftermath of the Johnstown flood:
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