In episode 16 of 5 Minute Biographies, we take a look at the Johnstown Flood of 1889, which was one of the deadliest disasters in American history, claiming over 2,200 lives. It occurred when the South Fork Dam in Pennsylvania collapsed after days of heavy rain, unleashing 20 million tons of water onto the town of Johnstown. The flood destroyed homes, swept away entire neighbourhoods, and caused fires, leaving the community in ruins. Despite relief efforts led by the Red Cross, the tragedy exposed negligence by the wealthy owners of the dam, sparking outrage and highlighting the stark inequalities of the Gilded Age.

Please consider supporting the show by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts, and if you would like to support us more directly, by say, buying us a coffee, then please head on over to 5minutedisasters.com/coffee to see how.

An article supporting this episode can be found on the website at https://5minutedisasters.com/the-johnstown-flood/

Check out our other 5 Minute podcasts - 5 Minute Biographies, 5 Minute History, 5 Minute Murder, 5 Minute Mysteries, and 5 Minute Warfare at: