Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Traces the federal program from its tentative beginnings in the 19th century to the enactment of a permanent federal policy on disaster assistance in 1950. Explains how the Engineers came to acquire that mission during the great Mississippi River flood of 1882. Describes the development of the Corps' statutory authorities and the Army's regulations for emergency operations. Tells the stories of Corps and Army Engineer operations during various calamities.
About the Author
The author is Leland Johnson, a freelance historical writer and researcher. He has published more than 40 books, about half of them for USACE. But Situation Desperate is much more than a dry recitation of facts and dates. It also captures the human element of disaster response, beginning with the title."The most exciting thing about the book is what people said during these emergencies, which was sometimes shocking and tantalizing, and sometimes real sharp," Johnson said. "The editors pulled those quotes and highlighted them, and one of them came from Capt. Dan Kingman during the Mississippi River flood of 1890.