Monday Week Ten

...some questions...

1. Why is the physiographic setting of Johnstown, PA such a nice place for a city? Why is the physiographic setting of Johnstown, PA such a nice place for a flood?

2. Johnstown is at the confluence of the Little Conemaugh and the Conemaugh Rivers. Are these large rivers? Compared to what? 

3. Where was Conemaugh Lake and the South Fork Dam in relation to Jonestown? What is there now?

4. Who built the South Fork Dam? When was is built? What was it made out of? What was special about it at the time? Who were the subsequent owners? What were some of the recent (period) modifications to the dam made by the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club that are important to the flood story?

5. What kind of discharge do you get when 6-10 inches of rain falls in 24 hours on a 119 square mile watershed? How does this compare to the "normal" discharge on the Little Conemaugh River? What kind of discharge do you get when you empty a 4.8 billion gallon reservoir in 45 minute?


6. What happened when the flash flood from the failure of the South Fork dam reached the Conemaugh Viaduct? Why did this exacerbate the flash flood that would eventually reach Johnstown?

7. How did the industrial areas on the upstream side of town and the Railroad Bridge on the downstream side of town exacerbate the flooding? 

8.What were some of the barriers to effective warning and evacuation? In recalling the damage from the flood, why is it important to think in terms of percents instead of total numbers?

9. Why was the role of the American Red Cross so important in the aftermath of the flood? What were the results of the legal aftermath of the flood? What is an "Act of God?"

10. Why was the "Great Mississippi Flood of 1927" so great?

11. How bad were the floods in Colorado last year? Why were they so bad? Why should you never recreate in urban flood waters?

Slides from today are on Sakai.