A Zoom Presentation by author Josh Shanley

In his forthcoming book, Connecticut River Valley Flood of 1936, author Josh Shanley recounts the greatest flood in New England history.

Early in the spring of 1936, nearly two feet of rain over a two-week period created havoc on a massive scale, killing more than one hundred people and leaving tens of thousands homeless, unemployed, and without power for weeks.  The flood helped launch FDR’s Flood Control Act of 1936.  Dams, reservoirs and dikes were constructed to control future flooding.  Northampton in particular stands out as an example of the impact of flooding in New England.  A system of flood walls, levies, pumps and stop logs were built to protect downtown Northampton from another major flood.  This infrastructure has gone largely unchanged since built.

Shanley will recount the flood of 1936 and examine the potential for future floods.

Sponsored by Whalen Insurance