Superstorm 1950 : the greatest simultaneous blizzard, ice storm, windstorm, and cold outbreak of the twentieth century / David A. Call.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Call, David A., 1977- author.

Contributor:

Edward Potts Cheyney Memorial Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Great Appalachian Storm, 1950.

Storms--Northeastern States--History--20th century.

Storms.

Storms--Middle Atlantic States--History--20th century.

Storms--Ohio River Valley--History--20th century.

Middle Atlantic States.

Northeastern States.

Ohio River Valley.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

230 pages, 10 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, maps ; 23 cm

Other Title:

Greatest simultaneous blizzard, ice storm, windstorm, and cold outbreak of the twentieth century

Place of Publication:

West Lafayette, Indiana : Purdue University Press, [2023]

Summary:

"In November 1950, the greatest storm of the twentieth century crippled the eastern United States, affecting more than 100 million people. Sometimes referred to as the Great Appalachian or Thanksgiving storm, this was no ordinary weather event. Its giant size and multiple record-setting hazards-including snow, ice, flooding, wind, and cold temperatures-were cataclysmic. This superstorm was the most costly weather-related disaster when it occurred. Only two other storms that affected the US mainland since then, both hurricanes, have exceeded its death toll. The weather records it established remain benchmarks of extreme weather to this day. Superstorm 1950 examines the immediate impact of the storm, covering not just meteorology, but also its wide-ranging social impacts, which varied by race, class, and gender. The repercussions continue to affect us today, in obvious areas like weather forecasting, and in surprising areas like Ohio State football and government tax policy. Because superstorms are not as familiar as hurricanes or tornadoes, they can be overlooked in terms of weather-related disasters. This is a mistake. Vulnerability to weather disasters is increasing, and a similar storm today would likely be the most expensive weather disaster ever in the United States. Superstorm 1950 serves not only as a riveting account of one of the greatest disasters in US history, but also provides a premonition of what may come if global climate change is not confronted"-- Provided by publisher.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Edward Potts Cheyney Memorial Fund.

Other Format:

Online version: Call, David A., 1977- Superstorm 1950

ISBN:

9781612497969

1612497969

9781612497976

1612497977

OCLC:

1314054361

Publisher Number:

99992394557