Johnstown Flood (historical reference)

The Johnstown Flood of 1889 was a devastating natural disaster in Pennsylvania, caused by a dam failure on the South Fork Dam. Heavy rainfall weakened the dam’s structure, leading it to collapse and release a massive wall of water into the town of Johnstown. The flood swept away homes, bridges, and lives, resulting in over 2,200 deaths. It was one of the deadliest dam failures in U.S. history and highlighted the importance of engineering and safety standards for dams. The disaster prompted changes in laws and practices to prevent similar catastrophes.