There were 200 to 300 total fatalities. Most who were children. Some were adults though that were waiting for children to come home, schoolteachers that left early, and any workers that got out early.
There wouldn't have been as many deaths if school teachers hadn't let there children out to go home early. The children lasted mere sseconds when the blizzard hit. They died of hypothermia, and lack of oxygen.
Not as many people died in this blizzard as in the one that hit in March of 1888. The reason was because the blizzard in March hit an area, New York, that was more populated. Though it didnt have as many deaths it did hit more land.
I agree with your first paragraph, but must admit that I don't think you were right on your second. In my opinion it wasn't (completly) the school teachers' faults. Think of how quickly it came and how unprepared the people were.
ReplyDeleteMany of the school teachers were teenagers and taught out of older school houses. The heavy snows caused alot of stress on the buildings and the "smartest" thing was to let the kids out. The teachers often went with the children.
Even if they had stayed inside, it was 40 below and this was before heaters, so they posed the risk of freezing inside the school as well. Don't forget the workers, farmers, parents, and other people. They contributed to the death toll too.
I'm not trying to tear apart your post. I think you made quite a few good points throughout it. Good job! :)
There was indeed technology available to predict storms... remember that just 12 years later Galveston was struck by a monster hurricane and the meteorologist were tracking it.... it is just that the technology was ot as advanced, weather forecasting was handled by the military, and once forecast, there was no way to communicate those forecast out to a wide range of the public... no phone or radio or tv... just telegraph and written word
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