This category 4 hurricane is U.S.'s worst natural disaster to this day, over 123 years later

Join Jenny, the Disaster Queen, as she takes a deep dive into a 15-foot storm surge that devastated turn-of-the-century Galveston, Texas. This posh boomtown took a huge hit and never saw it coming, even though one man probably should have. The Galveston hurricane is still the worst natural disaster in the history of the United States 123 years later and saw over 1/6 of the city's population go to their graves. We will talk about the how, the why, and what was learned and put in place to protect Galveston from hurricanes forever. Here are the resources I used to research this episode: book: <a href="https://a.co/d/eUzEmkx" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson</a>book: <a href="https://a.co/d/9aveD6k" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Storm of the Century by Al Roker</a>documentary: <a href="https://watch.plex.tv/show/history-channel-documentaries/season/2004/episode/288" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isaac's Storm</a>articles:<a href="https://www.galvestonmonthly.com/whoswho/isaac-cline.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.galvestonmonthly.com/whoswho/isaac-cline.html</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Cline" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Cline</a>

The Great Galveston Hurricane - September 8, 1900

Part two of the Jonestown Massacre of 918 Americans in Guyana

Join Jenny, the Disaster Queen and her BFF Becky Dell as they discuss the terrible ending of Jim Jones' socialist dream with the mass "murder-suicide" (the Disaster Queen calls it straight up murder) of over 900 of Jones' followers as well as Congressman Leo Ryan and several members of the media on November 18, 1978. Before the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, it was the largest loss of civilian American life in a single event. Learn about what happened, the events that led to the END, and what the world learned from this heinous tragedy. Here are the sources I used to research this episode:Book: <a href="https://a.co/d/3FXhZfS" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Road to Jonestown</a> by Jeff GuinnDocumentary series : <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8014232/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle </a>(based on Guinn's book)Documentary: <a href="https://www.hulu.com/series/jonestown-the-women-behind-the-massacre-60a259aa-1038-4eb3-9b86-bdd1d8a7b027" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jonestown: The Women Behind the Massacre</a> (currently on Hulu)<a href="https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/timeline-of-jonestown" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/timeline-of-jonestown</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Jones" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Jones</a>Book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Seductive-Poison-Jonestown-Survivors-Peoples-ebook/dp/B0036S4ECS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2FZI0FFEBGZNK&amp;keywords=Deborah+Layton&amp;qid=1701296402&amp;s=digital-text&amp;sprefix=deborah+layton%2Cdigital-text%2C103&amp;sr=1-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Seductive Poison </a>by Deborah Layton

Jonestown Massacre PART TWO w/ Becky Dell - November 18, 1978

Part one of the Jonestown Massacre

Join Jenny, the Disaster Queen, and her special guest and BFF Becky Dell, as they discuss the November 18, 1978 deaths of 918 Americans in the jungles of Guyana. This is our first two-part story because it's just too big to cover in one episode! Learn all about cult leader Jim Jones, how he attracted a following to his "church," and the many abuses of power he used to get them to follow him to the jungle of Guyana to a settlement called Jonestown.

The Jonestown Massacre PART ONE with Becky Dell - November 18, 1978

Disaster Queen remembers where she was when the biggest disasters of her lifetime happened

In this BONUS episode wrapping up season one of the Disaster Queen podcast, join Jenny, the Disaster Queen as she remembers where she was and what she was thinking during the biggest disasters of her life, including the space shuttle Challenger explosion, the Oklahoma City bombing, the 9/11 terror attacks, and more. Some favorite documentaries I recommend: <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/tv/shows/911-one-day-in-america" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">9/11: One Day in America</a> <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15251112/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">9/11: Four Flights</a> <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12930534/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Challenger: Final Flight</a> <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/oklahoma-city/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">American Experience: Oklahoma City</a>

Season 1 BONUS: My personal memories of Challenger, 9/11 and more

A flash flood decimates rural eastern Kentucky

When 600 times the normal amount of rain fell on Eastern Kentucky in late July 2022, there was nowhere for its residents to run, and no time: a devastating flash flood came in the middle of the night and washed homes and lives away in mere minutes. Disaster Queen Jenny Rapson talks with lifelong friend Lori Houghton about this tragic natural disaster that occurred in a beautiful yet hard place to live, where they both have familial roots. 45 people and 9,000 homes were lost in this devastating modern-day disaster. Here are the resources I used to research this episode: <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/east-kentucky-flood/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://dailyyonder.com/east-kentucky-flood/</a><a href="https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2023/07/27/surviving-the-floods-rebuilding-eastern-kentucky#:~:text=Between%20July%2026%2DJuly%2030,their%20lives%20in%20the%20storm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2023/07/27/surviving-the-floods-rebuilding-eastern-kentucky#:~:text=Between%20July%2026%2DJuly%2030,their%20lives%20in%20the%20storm</a>.<a href="https://www.weather.gov/jkl/July2022Flooding" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.weather.gov/jkl/July2022Flooding</a><a href="https://dailyyonder.com/isom-iga-the-grocery-store-that-love-rebuilt/2023/04/14/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://dailyyonder.com/isom-iga-the-grocery-store-that-love-rebuilt/2023/04/14/</a><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/03/22/kentucky-flooding-disasters-housing/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/03/22/kentucky-flooding-disasters-housing/</a><a href="https://dailyyonder.com/rural-kentucky-floods-lack-of-forecasting-broadband/2023/03/23/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://dailyyonder.com/rural-kentucky-floods-lack-of-forecasting-broadband/2023/03/23/</a><a href="https://www.kentucky.com/news/state/kentucky/article263953661.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.kentucky.com/news/state/kentucky/article263953661.html</a><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/06/us/kentucky-flooding-survivor-stories/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/06/us/kentucky-flooding-survivor-stories/index.html</a><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jul/30/kentucky-rescue-victims-flooding" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jul/30/kentucky-rescue-victims-flooding</a><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/29/us/kentucky-floods-teenager-roof-rescue/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/29/us/kentucky-floods-teenager-roof-rescue/index.html</a><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kentucky-flood-survivors-say-was-no-time-escape-deluge-rcna41152" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kentucky-flood-survivors-say-was-no-time-escape-deluge-rcna41152</a><a href="https://www.kentucky.com/news/state/kentucky/article277457683.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.kentucky.com/news/state/kentucky/article277457683.html</a><a href="https://www.wkyt.com/2022/08/15/story-guitar-recovered-after-eky-flooding-receives-national-attention/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.wkyt.com/2022/08/15/story-guitar-recovered-after-eky-flooding-receives-national-attention/</a> <a href="https://youtu.be/_TJJ4YqlKO0?si=u9fz1PC-lse_yniZ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Documentary: East Kentucky Flood</a> <a href="https://dailyyonder.com/east-kentucky-flood/#support" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Donate to help survivors of the Eastern Kentucky Flood</a>

Eastern Kentucky Flood with Lori Houghton - July 27, 2022

Terror and murder destroy the Olympic spirit

On this episode, Jenny, the Disaster Queen discusses the devastating terror attack by the Palestinian group Black September on a group of Israeli athletes and coaches that ended in disaster and tragedy at the 1972 Olympic games in Munich, West Germany. What was supposed to be an event of brotherhood and sportsmanship was violated by terror and murder. Here are the resources I used to research this episode: <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Munich-Massacre" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.britannica.com/event/Munich-Massacre</a><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Fatah" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.britannica.com/topic/Fatah</a><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Black-September-political-organization-Palestine" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.britannica.com/topic/Black-September-political-organization-Palestine</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-israel-sports-middle-east-munich-2020-tokyo-olympics-8387c0cdbb280e9064eae2c3a1c9d191" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://apnews.com/article/sports-israel-sports-middle-east-munich-2020-tokyo-olympics-8387c0cdbb280e9064eae2c3a1c9d191</a><a href="https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/revisited/20220911-the-munich-olympics-massacre-five-decades-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/revisited/20220911-the-munich-olympics-massacre-five-decades-on</a><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230591/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">One Day in September - documentary</a><a href="https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/munich-massacre.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/munich-massacre.htm</a><a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/09/04/1116641214/munich-olympics-massacre-hostage-terrorism-israel-germany" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.npr.org/2022/09/04/1116641214/munich-olympics-massacre-hostage-terrorism-israel-germany</a><a href="https://www.history.com/topics/1970s/munich-massacre-olympics" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.history.com/topics/1970s/munich-massacre-olympics</a><a href="https://blog.juedisches-museum-muenchen.de/munichmassacre72-anton-fliegerbauer/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://blog.juedisches-museum-muenchen.de/munichmassacre72-anton-fliegerbauer/</a><a href="https://blog.juedisches-museum-muenchen.de/munichmassacre72-moshe-weinberg/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://blog.juedisches-museum-muenchen.de/munichmassacre72-moshe-weinberg/</a>

The Munich Olympics Massacre - September 5, 1972

NASA's first loss of life 

Join Jenny, the Disaster Queen as she discusses the Apollo 1 disaster, which resulted in the death of three astronauts on the ground -- NOT in space. We'll learn about how and why NASA was blindsided by this disaster, about the brave men who died in this tragic accident, and how NASA took steps to ensure that this kind of failure during a routine test would never happen again. Here are the resources I used to research this episode: <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/55-years-ago-the-apollo-1-fire-and-its-aftermath" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.nasa.gov/feature/55-years-ago-the-apollo-1-fire-and-its-aftermath</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZc8B3IMzHg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Documentary: Mission Control</a><a href="https://www.disneyplus.com/movies/apollo-missions-to-the-moon/1f6BzHy0ikUs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Documentary: Apollo: Missions to the Moon</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_choose_to_go_to_the_Moon#:~:text=%22We%20choose%20to%20go%20to,on%20the%20Moon%20before%201970" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_choose_to_go_to_the_Moon#:~:text=%22We%20choose%20to%20go%20to,on%20the%20Moon%20before%201970</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_1</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Race" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Race</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_White_(astronaut)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_White_(astronaut)</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_B._Chaffee" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_B._Chaffee</a>

Apollo 1 - January 27, 1967

Accident or murder? It's still a mystery.

On Christmas Eve 1913, a Christmas party for the children of striking copper miners ends in disaster when someone yells "FIRE" and a stampede to get out of the building ensues. Join us as we learn about the lives of these (mostly immigrant) copper miners, their struggles, and the Christmas Eve tragedy that marked Michigan's Upper Peninsula forever. Join Jenny and her special guest, her cousin and co-blogger Emily Berry, as they break down this unthinkable disaster. Here are the resources I used to research this episode: <a href="https://www.mlive.com/news/2017/12/1913_italian_hall_disaster_was.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.mlive.com/news/2017/12/1913_italian_hall_disaster_was.html</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calumet,_Michigan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calumet,_Michigan</a><a href="https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/calumet-italian-hall-disaster/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/calumet-italian-hall-disaster/</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064494317941" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064494317941</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yjFP1IajQg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yjFP1IajQg</a> - Steve Lehto on the Italian Hall Doors<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Clemenc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Clemenc</a>List of names of the victims: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02rTcmsRCTsAmmWfk8sS66ByTQqa6ntUF5aMZveCRQ4TvLEEVwiATkzysxdi6p9B6ml&amp;id=291845417514549" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02rTcmsRCTsAmmWfk8sS66ByTQqa6ntUF5aMZveCRQ4TvLEEVwiATkzysxdi6p9B6ml&amp;id=291845417514549</a>

Michigan Italian Hall Disaster w/ Emily Berry - December 24, 1913

47 tourists are trapped on a volcano when it erupts with no warning

On this episode of the Disaster Queen Podcast, we will go with a tour group of mostly cruise ship passengers as they visit the majestic Whaakari volcano near Whakatane, New Zealand. Known in English as White Island, this gorgeous active volcano is the definition of adventure tourism, and the main source of industry for the town of Whakatane. But it all goes horriby wrong on December 9, 2019 when Whakaari suddenly erupts with no warning - and with 47 people still on it. Here are the resources I used to research this episode:<a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a42295664/whakaari-volcano-victims-survivors/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a42295664/whakaari-volcano-victims-survivors/</a><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/15/white-island-volcano-what-we-know-about-the-victims" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/15/white-island-volcano-what-we-know-about-the-victims</a><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-09/white-island-volcano-eruption-anniversary-new-zealand-22-dead/12962748" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-09/white-island-volcano-eruption-anniversary-new-zealand-22-dead/12962748</a><a href="https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/news-analysis/whakaari-white-island-new-zealand-volcano-eruption-2019/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/news-analysis/whakaari-white-island-new-zealand-volcano-eruption-2019/</a> Documentary:<a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81410405" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari</a>Documentary: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXYs4ptG83Y" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Real Stories: The 2019 White Island Eruption</a>Documentary: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nGnXthjVgc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">60 Minutes Australia: The White Island Disaster</a> The Disaster Queen Podcast is a production of Disaster Queen Productions LLC.It is produced, researched and written by Jenny Rapson, the Disaster Queen.&nbsp;The Disaster Queen Pod Squad:Audio engineering: Robert RapsonEditing:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:joshrapson.edits@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Josh Rapson</a>&nbsp;Original theme music: Robert RapsonOriginal podcast artwork:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/onekingdomdesign" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ken Clark</a>Website Design:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hello-chicky.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hello Chicky Design</a>

Whakaari White Island Volcano Eruption - December 9, 2019

The who, what, and why of modern history's greatest disasters.

Disaster Queen is a podcast about the world's greatest disasters, past and present. Learn about these fascinating disasters, whether act of God, act of man, or accident. Host Jenny Rapson, the Disaster Queen, covers what happened, why it happened, and the people whose lives were forever changed by these disasters. Episodes drop every-other-Thursday beginning June 1, 2023.

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