Books in Disaster Alert! series

On March 10, 1941, at 12:38 a.m., the Brockton Fire Department responded to Fire Alarm Box 1311, which was pulled for a fire at the Strand Theatre. Fire Alarm dispatched the deputy chief, three engine companies, a ladder company and Squad A. Within six minutes, a second alarm was struck. Less than one hour after the first alarm, the roof of the Strand collapsed, and what appeared to be a routine fire turned into a disaster that killed thirteen firefighters and injured more than twenty others. The disaster marks one of the largest losses of life to firefighters from a burning building collapse in the United States. Jim Benson and Nicole Casper chronicle this devastating tragedy and celebrate the community's heroes and resilience in the face of adversity.

This work is intended for ages 8-14. The last century has been an incredible age of space exploration tremendously expanding our knowledge of the universe. This book chronicles both the brave and adventurous space missions throughout history that have ended in disaster in their quest to further our knowledge as well as an asteroid's journey through the atmosphere to its eventual impact on Earth. Topics include: the dangers of space exploration; the aftermaths of meteorite hits and failed space missions; famous natural space disasters; how scientists study natural space disasters; and how natural and space exploration disasters are predicted.

On the night of September 21, 1989, Hurricane Hugo slammed into the South Carolina coast at Sullivan’s Island―north of Charleston―with winds exceeding 160 miles per hour. The colossal force of the hurricane was punctuated by storm surges ranging from five to ten feet above sea level. At approximately one minute after midnight, Hugo’s eye passed over the island, and the charming community oceanside community disappeared beneath the tumultuous sea for nearly an hour. After Hugo left Sullivan’s Island in its furious wake, the first news broadcasts from the Charleston area reported that the island and neighboring Isle of Palms were completely destroyed. The Ben Sawyer Bridge―the only connection to the island at the time―was knocked off its pedestal and rendered useless, and so the hundreds of families who had evacuated the area could not return to their homes to see what, if anything, remained. The recovery process started slowly, and for many it would be a long, arduous journey. Island in the Storm, by local historians Jamie and Dorothy Moore, documents in vivid detail the devastation, loss and eventual rebuilding of this beloved island community. More than fifteen years later, Sullivan’s Island’s homes and businesses have been restored, but the memory of Hugo’s fury will not soon be forgotten.

"By the time Sandy had hit New York City on October 22, 2012, it had left a trail of death and destruction across the Caribbean and the eastern seaboard of the United States. Affecting 24 U.S. states, Sandy is the second-costliest superstorm in United States history. This informative book follows the timeline of the superstorm and features personal accounts by those who experienced the destruction in many New York City and New Jersey neighborhoods. Topics include: - how Superstorm Sandy developed - the response by state and federal relief agencies - the effects on air travel, subway transit, electricity, and the New York Stock Exchange - the recovery and rebuilding"--