Dust Storm in Elkhart, Kansas, May 1937

    Download Image Resource

Courtesy of Library of Congress, "[Dust storm, Elkhart, Kan.]," May 1937

Description

Packing winds of 60 miles per hour, the loose topsoil was scooped up and mounded into clouds of dust hundreds of feet high. People hurried home, because being caught outside could mean suffocation and death. The dust and darkness stopped all forms of transportation and the fine silt sifting through any crack or joint causing closures of hospitals, mills, schools and businesses.

Source-Dependent Questions

• Using evidence from the photo, describe what you see. What were the effects of the Dust Bowl on towns?
• If dust storms could cause suffocation and death, why do you think the people are outside?

Citation Information 

"[Dust storm, Elkhart, Kan.]," May 1937. Courtesy of Library of Congress