logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2024
41m 10s

Johnstown Flood | Overflow | 2

Wondery
About this episode

Engineer John Parke and a team of workers furiously shovel dirt, trying to shore up the South Fork Dam as it threatens to overflow, amid torrential rains. Parke knows these efforts are their only chance of preventing a terrible flood. He decides he has to warn the towns in the river valley of the imminent danger — but it’s a warning they’ve heard too many times in the past to take seriously. 

Listen to Against The Odds on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting http://wondery.com/links/against-the-odds/ now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Jul 8
Alone in Antarctica | The Windiest Place on Earth | 1
It’s 1912, the golden age of Antarctic exploration, and teams from the Australasian Antarctic Expedition are preparing to journey into the wilderness. One trio, led by the Australian geologist Douglas Mawson, will venture the farthest — traversing 700 miles roundtrip of uncharted ... Show More
42 m
Jul 1
Oceanos: Rescue off the Wild Coast | Into the Waves | 4
In August 1991, Lorraine Betts set sail aboard the Oceanos as cruise director, overseeing passenger entertainment and well-being. But when the lights went out and the ship began taking on water, it wasn’t the captain who led the evacuation—it was Lorraine and a small group of ent ... Show More
37m 59s
Jun 24
Oceanos: Rescue off the Wild Coast | Sink or Swim | 3
With all the lifeboats launched, the remaining passengers aboard the Oceanos cling to railings as the ship lists hard to one side. When helicopters arrive, the entertainment crew springs into action again—coordinating a high-stakes airlift as rescuers lower cables from the sky. B ... Show More
43m 21s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2024
Even The Rock Couldn't Save the Original XFL with Annie Agar and Noah Gardenswartz | 21
In 2001, wrestling mogul Vince McMahon attempted to conquer new sports territory by founding a violent, horny football league meant to compete with the NFL. McMahon's focus on entertainment and disregard for safety created an on-field product that was as weird as it was boring. I ... Show More
39m 49s
Dec 2012
The Johnstown Flood
On May 31, 1889, the South Fork dam gave way, sending 20 million tons of water rushing toward Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The water swept up everything in its path, and it only took about 10 minutes to wash away Johnstown. But was nature solely to blame? Learn more about your ad-cho ... Show More
21m 3s
Sep 2018
National Parks - The Great Disaster | 4
In the early morning hours of Wednesday, April 18, 1906, the city of San Francisco was torn apart by a huge earthquake–but it was the subsequent fires that did the most damage. As the city sought to rebuild, it also sought a more secure water supply, to break the stranglehold of ... Show More
40m 23s
May 2022
The Great Mississippi Flood | Dirty Water | 2
Early in the morning on April 22nd, 1927, flood waters from a break in the Mound Landing levee entered the town of Greenville, Mississippi. Within hours, the town was submerged in 10 feet of water. Thousands of residents fought to reach higher ground, desperately clinging to tree ... Show More
39m 1s
May 2022
The Great Mississippi Flood | Master of Emergencies | 3
Herbert Hoover’s management of the flood relief garnered widespread praise and put him in position to secure the Republican nomination for President. But the African-American press told a different story, one of rampant racial abuse in Red Cross camps throughout the flood zone.In ... Show More
38m 33s
Aug 2023
Encore: The Canoe Con | El Dorado | 2
The Darwins trick the police into thinking John’s dead and decide they need to flee the country.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. 
45m 31s
Sep 2023
Selects: How Floods Work
Floods happen when more water is introduced to an area than can be quickly removed. That's about it, but there's more to floods, what causes them and the havoc they can wreak. Join Josh and Chuck in this super-saturated classic episode of Stuff You Should Know.See omnystudio.com/ ... Show More
33m 49s