ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview of the flood from a physical and policy standpoint, and offers a chronicle of the key events before, during, and after the flood. The flood's chronology is an interesting way to tell the story of the "Great Flood of '93" and to assess how key events and issues developed over time. The flood affected a third of the United States and severely tested national, state, and local systems for managing natural resources and for handling emergencies, illuminating both the strengths and weaknesses in existing methods of preparing for and dealing with massive prolonged flooding. The Great Flood of 1993 created monumental impacts in the Midwest but also became a pivotal event nationally by causing major shifts in government policies relating to flood mitigation, weather risks, and natural hazards. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
