The Flood City' How Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Is Keeping the Forces of Nature at Bay

摘要

Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is famous for flooding. As the site of one of the worst disasters in American history—the flood of May 31, 1889—and numerous other inundations, the town has rightfully earned the moniker "The Flood City." One of the more notable events was the St. Patrick's Day Flood of 1936, which killed more than two dozen people. The most recent major flood occurred in 1977, killing more than 75 people. Since then, knowledge about the science behind flash floods has increased by leaps and bounds. And although it might be a steep learning curve, Johnstown residents have internalized many hard lessons since the first flood, and with each disaster and each passing year, they are advancing their understanding of flash floods and doing more to keep their city high and dry. Improvements in flood protections, radar capability, flood forecasting tools, and emergency planning, particularly in the last three decades, have helped Johnstown ensure that it has a fighting chance against future flood threats. But for residents of The Flood City, another inundation is always looming—because the only way to stop flooding in Johnstown is to stop the rain from pouring down from the sky.