The Johnstown Flood
Although not mentioned by name, the "flood incident" is uncannily close to the actual Johnstown PA Flood. And perhaps intended to do so. The initial dam, thought by at least one engineer to be unsafe, but "oh, its held for years" by others with a financial interest in the lake which was created for recreational purposes.
When the rains did come (said to be of biblical proportions) residents and mayors did try to send warnings downstream to Johnstown, but they were ignored or not believed. And this even after the dam had been undermined and collapsed and there were eye witnesses.
Very important and wealthy people from Pittsburg (Carnegie, Melon) owned summer residences lakeside. The Flood was front page news on the New York Times for over a month. Afterwards there were lawsuits and some legal action, but in the end no one important or any facility took any blame or punishment.
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