The worst flood in United States history occurred on May 31, 1889 in Pennsylvania. The dam was old and broke. Most of the city of Johnstown was smashed by the water and mud. More than two thousand people died in the flood. Today floods kill fewer people because engineers and scientists have better technology. According to the National Weather Service 118 people died in floods in the United States in 1997, and 525 were injured. In 1998 136 people died in floods. Floods caused a huge 6440 injuries in 1998. Of those injured 6,091 happened in the south-central Texas area between October 17 - 21, 1998. After studying statistical information from 1995 to 1998 the majority of flood related deaths occurred in vehicles. The second leading place of death was out in the open in water. The third leading place of death was in the home. In a ten year average of a number of weather-related fatalities extreme heat ranked as the number 1 killer with floods coming in a close second. Could flood safety education help prevent accidents? Follow the links below so you will be better prepared when faced with a flood mishap. Then take the quiz to determine how much you have learned.
|
