1954 Dust Bowl

The 1954 Dust Bowl was a severe dust storm that affected central and southern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Caused by years of intense farming without crop rotation or soil conservation, combined with drought conditions, the wind lifted large amounts of topsoil into the air. These dust storms degraded farmland, displaced thousands of families, and caused health problems. Although less famous than the 1930s Dust Bowl, the 1954 event underscored ongoing challenges of sustainable land management and the devastating impact of environmental neglect.