Historical1889
Johnstown Flood
The South Fork Dam failed in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, unleashing 20 million tons of water that killed more than 2,200 people. The disaster revealed negligence by the dam's wealthy owners and prompted one of the largest civilian relief efforts in American history to that date.
Why It Matters
The Johnstown Flood spurred public debate about corporate accountability, disaster relief, and the government's responsibility to protect citizens from preventable catastrophes.