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Description
The March/April storm of 1913 was the largest many Midwestern communities had ever seen. This book presents the stories of key people in Dayton, Ohio, the city that became the symbol of this disaster.
Quick Summary
Picture a week in March 1913 when a gigantic storm dumped rain on the Midwest, and Dayton, Ohio, found itself underwater then a second disaster struck when fires broke out amid the floodwaters. Huey and Miner tell the story through the eyes of a handful of real people a teenage volunteer, a city fire chief, a local doctor showing how they improvised rescue boats, saved families from rooftops, and fought flames that threatened to wipe out what the water hadn't already claimed. The book is short enough to read in a couple of sittings, yet the language feels like a real adventure, mixing newspaper clippings, personal letters, and vivid descriptions that make the danger feel close without crossing into overly scary territory. It's perfect for kids who love true-life thrillers, especially those who enjoy stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things during disasters. If you've ever read "The Great Fire" by Jim Murphy and liked how it mixes drama with history, you'll find a similar energy here, plus a great starting point for a classroom project on community resilience.