Flood Special: WPA Relief in Wheeling, West Virginia, 1930s

6 months ago
7

This silent film captures the extensive flood relief efforts by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in Wheeling, West Virginia. It shows WPA workers diligently clearing mud from streets, pumping out flooded cellars and basements, and managing the aftermath by sorting salvageable goods from the debris. Public health measures like spreading lime on sewage areas are depicted, alongside the community support provided through CCC and WPA food kitchens, serving meals to both refugees and relief workers. The film also highlights the rescue operations with citizens being saved by rowboat and brought to WPA relief centers, illustrating the coordinated response to natural disasters during the era.

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