Catastrophe

1917 Halifax explosion marked 100th anniversary in December 2017. Worst disaster in North America before 9/11. Challenges the myth that the American response, although welcome, was without problems. Challenges myths about how people react during disasters Looks at all elements of the disaster from a scholarly perspective --women, medical response, military response, American response, roll of rail. Offers a new theory of why explosion happened based on unpublished archival records. Weaves stories and disaster theory in readable fashion.