[...]... does your model “stack up”? Compare it with photos of the real Mount Vesuvius Disasters Scholastic Professional Books 27 Name _ Date _ Topographical Map Use this topographical map to create a model of Mount Vesuvius 28 Disasters Scholastic Professional Books PART TWO: Man-Made Disasters The Johnstown Flood Background Information O n May 31, 1889, a storm... why not? Come up with a way to record the “layers” at which you found your “fossil facts.” Do not use the dates on the newspapers 4 Describe your method on the back of this page Disasters Scholastic Professional Books 13 14 Disasters Scholastic Professional Books Remember: Lines of latitude run east and west Lines of longitude run north and south Crater #1: The water is warm above this 112-mile-wide... the phone rings The three friends jump up, startled WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Disasters Scholastic Professional Books Finish the story Write a play describing how the characters face the doomsday asteroid 15 The Wrath of Vesuvius Background Information W hen Mount Vesuvius erupted on August 24, A.D 79, it resulted in one of the greatest disasters in the ancient world It also proved to be a very significant... earth? the same time the dinosaurs went extinct! This caused an environmental disaster… which killed the dinosaurs? Or is there another possible explanation? What do you think? Disasters Scholastic Professional Books 11 12 Disasters Scholastic Professional Books Insects Conifers First reptiles First land plants, fish, and amphibians First Mammals Birds Dinosaurs 245 million to 65 million years ago 3... South Fork Dam and releasing a wall of water that destroyed the town of Johnstown The Johnstown Flood was one of the most devastating disasters in American history and it was an important historical event on many levels First and foremost, it was one of the greatest single disasters in American history, resulting in terrible loss of life The fact that the tragedy was caused by a poorly maintained dam owned... top of the dam At 2:30 p.m., the engineer at the dam sends a telegraph to Johnstown, located 14 miles down the winding valley: “THE DAM IS BECOMING DANGEROUS AND MAY POSSIBLY GO.” 34 Disasters Scholastic Professional Books Disasters Scholastic Professional Books 35 Date _ Use the map below and the descriptions on The Johnstown Flood, Part 2 to follow the path of the flood The Johnstown... does she write? Mother (reading): “My friends, help us! Everything here is in turmoil All roads are blocked by falling ashes Our only hope is to escape by boat If my servant gets through to you with this Disasters Scholastic Professional Books letter, I beg you to come and save us.” Pliny the Elder (grimly): Is my boat ready? Servant: It is, sir Pliny the Elder: Good I thought this would be an educational... the Elder: Everyone must die but very few of us get to see such an amazing sight as this Come on, we’ll be safe in your house Pomponianus: Yes but for how long? Pliny the Elder: Fortune favors the brave Disasters Scholastic Professional Books 21 SCENE FOUR Narrator: While my Uncle traveled to the very foot of Vesuvius, my mother and I tried to carry on our normal lives I finished up my studies I had a... both move a little faster Mother: What should we do? Lucius: Fool! Lucius: Come with me now! Narrator: Lucius ran off into the darkness We never saw him again Pliny the Younger: But we’re miles from 22 Disasters Scholastic Professional Books SCENE SIX Narrator: I helped my mother pick up her pace As we struggled along, a thin dust began to fall from above like a gentle flurry of snow I turned again— a... voices of frightened, lost souls Pomponianus: What could it be? Pliny the Elder: Rocks The sky is raining stones and ashes If we go out, we could be buried alive or crushed Pomponianus: What should we do? Disasters Scholastic Professional Books Man #4: Help me! I can’t breath! Mother: Son? Son! Look! There’s a light in the distance! Is it the sun? 23 Narrator: My mother was filled with hope at the approaching . Pressure Drop! (science) 72 Reproducibles 74 5 Introduction Masters of Disasters I t’s true: People are fascinated by disasters. It seems as if you can’t turn on the news, pick up a magazine,. of behavior for our own lives. By watching or reading about disasters, we “master” them, and doing so, we master our own lives. The study of disasters also happens to present marvelous opportunities. comprehensive disaster unit. The book is divided into three sections. Part One: Ancient Disasters, looks at disasters from long ago. The book opens, ironically enough, with a “doomsday” disaster