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The Johnstown Flood of 1889 was caused by heavy rainfall and the collapse of the South Fork Dam, which had been poorly maintained and modified by its owners. The flood killed over 2,000 people and caused $17 million in property damage, making it one of the worst natural disasters in US history.
One of the worst disasters in the history of Pennsylvania and the United States occurred on May 31, 1889. A severe storm had been raging over the western half of the United States for days. On May 30, a flood hit southwestern Pennsylvania, causing more than 3 inches of rain and leading to the Johnstown Flood. Eight inches (20.3 cm) of rain is not normally a catastrophic event, but several other factors played a role in the Johnstown flooding.
The geographic features of the area, which remain the same today, played a large part in the Johnstown Flood, also known as the Great Flood of 1889. The City of Johnstown, founded in 1793, is located at the intersection of Stonycreek and Little Rivers Conemaugh. These two rivers join to form the greater Conemaugh River. Because the city of Johnstown is surrounded by
waterways, was often prone to flooding at least once a year from melting snow or heavy rains caused by annual thunderstorms. The year 1889 was no different.
Johnstown was also home to Conemaugh Lake, formerly known as Western Reservoir. Lake Conemaugh, created by blocking a section of the Little Conemaugh River, was initially built for use in the Pennsylvania canal system in a time before steam transportation was popular. The reservoir, which was completed in 1852, was held at bay by the South Fork Dam. The dam had problems from the beginning, and was a major contributing factor to the flooding of Johnstown.
The dam, which was never structurally sound, had collapsed once in 1862, causing only minor flooding as it was only half full by then. The tank passed through the hands of many owners, each of whom made their own modifications. One owner is recorded as having removed drainage pipes so the dam could never be completely drained for repairs. In 1879, the reservoir and dam were purchased by the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, an illustrious getaway for notable names of the day, including steel magnate Andrew Carnegie.
The fishing club made additional damaging changes to the water body, including adding screens above the spillway. This allowed the fish to remain in the reservoir, but also caused a buildup of silt and debris that added to the dam’s poor drainage. On the day of the flood, the water in the streets had already reached a height of 10 feet (3,045 m), but shortly after 3 p.m. the South Fork Dam burst. It released more than 20 million tons (18,143.69 kg) of water on Johnstown and surrounding areas.
For the rest of the night, survivors huddled en masse on the floating roofs, grabbing debris to avoid drowning. Some survived, many more were injured and 2,209 people died. Five days after the event, Clara Barton and the organization she founded several years earlier, the American Red Cross, arrived to administer relief and supplies to stranded survivors of the flood. Of the victims, 99 entire families died, 98 children were orphaned, and 777 victims were never identified. The flood created 124 widows and 198 widowers.
Many properties have been damaged or destroyed. The total amount of property damage was $17 million (USD). More than 4 miles (6.44 km) of the city of Johnstown was destroyed, leading many to argue that the Johnstown flood was one of the worst natural disasters in US history.
