Telling the Stories of Historical Disasters with Beth Livingston
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Author Beth Livingston joins the team in this episode to share her accounts of two past disasters here in the United States. First she recounts the personal stories of resilience in The Dayton Flood of 1913. Then she tells the stories of the survivors of The Charleston Earthquake of 1886.
Both of these disasters took place long before our 24-hour video media coverage. Yet the personal accounts were recorded by local historians and news sources for us to learn from. Beth uses her ability to breathe life into these accounts and creates a fictional story around these true life situations.
More about the Great Flood of 1913
More about the Charleston Earthquake of 1886
Beth Livingston has been telling stories for as long as she can remember. When she was two years old, she entertained passengers on a train ride across California with her made up tales. She went on to become a teacher and then a school librarian, all the while telling her stories. Her first book, The Hideout, was published in 1983. Since then, she’s gone on to write four children’s books and nine adult novels.
Also on the show were our disaster weather experts Kyle Nelson and Dan DePodwin, along with our emergency management expert Becky DePodwin. Our episode was hosted by Sam Bradley and Jamie Davis.
Scroll down for Podcast Discussion Summary
Thank you as always to Paragon Medical Education Group for their long-term support of the Disaster Podcast. Dr. Joe Holley and the team at Paragon continue to provide excellent and customized disaster response training to jurisdictions around the U.S. and internationally as well.
Podcast Discussion Summary
Exploring Historical Weather Disasters
Jamie introduces a new episode of the Disaster Podcast, which will focus on historical disasters. He mentions that his co-host Sam Bradley is present, and they have a special guest lined up to discuss past events. The show plans to explore weather forecasting and conditions during historical disasters, with input from three meteorologists who will be participating in the discussion.
Weather Conditions and Storms Discussed
The meeting discussed the weather conditions in various regions. Jamie shared that they experienced a storm with high winds and rain, which led to the loss of trees and power outages. Dan mentioned that the weather has been active in March, with severe thunderstorms and a March snowstorm in the Midwest. He also predicted a warm period in the south and a significant storm in the east for the weekend before Saint Patrick’s Day.
Jamie brought up a rare tropical cyclone in Australia, which has been slow-moving and bringing rain. Kyle added that the cyclone was expected to cause significant rainfall and potential inland flooding in Southern Queensland and northern New South Wales.
Beth’s Christian Historical Fiction Books
Sam and Beth Livingston discussed Beth’s Christian historical fiction books, specifically her Disaster series. Beth shared her interest in disasters, which began when she visited the Carillon Historical Park in Dayton, Ohio, and discovered the Dayton flood of 1913. She then researched and wrote a book about the event, incorporating firsthand accounts and old pictures. Beth also mentioned her interest in the Charleston earthquake of 1886, which she researched and wrote about in another book.
Sam expressed interest in hearing firsthand stories from people who lived through these disasters. Beth then described the Dayton flood of 1913, explaining that it was caused by three large storm systems converging on the city, resulting in 9 to 11 inches of rain falling on already saturated land. The flood went through downtown Dayton, leaving 15,000 residents homeless, 92 people dead, and causing an estimated $2 billion in merchandise loss in today’s economy.
The Great Dayton Flood of 1913
Beth narrated the story of the Great Dayton Flood of 1913. She detailed the rising water levels, the breaking of levees, and the subsequent flooding of the city. The National Cash Register Company, led by John Patterson, was converted into a relief center where employees were organized to serve the flood victims.
Beth also shared several personal accounts of people who survived the flood, including one about a man who risked his life to rescue a family trapped in their hotel room. The conversation ended with her highlighting the bravery and resilience of the survivors and the lessons learned from the disaster.
Dayton Flood and Community Response
In the meeting, the team discussed a historical weather scenario involving a significant flood in Dayton, Ohio, in 1913. Dan provided historical context, mentioning the Johnstown flood and the extraordinary weather conditions in March 1913. Kyle emphasized the importance of neighbors helping neighbors during disasters and the role of public information in reaching out for resources.
Becky compared the factory owner’s response to the modern-day example of Mattress Mac in Houston. Jamie praised Beth’s storytelling ability in weaving together individual accounts into a cohesive narrative. The team also discussed the availability of the books discussed in the meeting, with links provided in the show notes.
1886 Charleston Earthquake Destruction and Recovery
In the meeting, Dan, Sam, and Kyle discussed the 1886 Charleston earthquake, one of the most destructive earthquakes in the Eastern United States. The quake, initially felt in Somerville, resulted in significant damage to Charleston, with over 6,000 buildings destroyed or badly damaged. The earthquake was unusual as it occurred in the middle of a tectonic plate, distant from any plate boundary.
Despite the devastation, Charleston survived and rebuilt within 14 months. The earthquake served as a significant event for geologic service scientists to study earthquake intensity and its distribution, as it was felt across a wide area, including Ontario, Bermuda, and Cuba. The meeting highlighted how this tragedy spurred interest and advancements in the science of geology and earthquakes.
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