OPINION: Worst Engineering Failure in U.S. History Made Us Safer

In recent months, disasters are unfortunately on the minds of too many Americans. The loss of life and infrastructure are overwhelming and we all pray that new lessons are learned to help prevent similar disasters from happening in the future.  That is why the Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Memorial Act is timely and significant. Almost 90 years ago, on March 12, 1928, the St. Francis Dam ruptured, sending a 180-foot tower of water hurtling down San Francisquito Canyon in northeastern Los Angeles County.