Theme 1 Title: Cultural Responses to the Flood Theme 1 ... - WSKG

AGNES Theme 1 Title: Cultural Responses to the FloodTheme 1 Description: Following the arrival of Hurricane Agnes in the Southern Tier ofNew York, many cities, towns and villages were devastated. Massive flooding spreadthroughout these areas, resulting in damage that continues to affect these areas to thisday. As a result, impacted areas were forced to respond to the flood, many with responsesunique to the distinct cultures within each of their communities. Cultural responses to theflood led areas to rebuild in many different ways that are reflected in how thecommunities look today.Correlating DVD Segments:1. Culture of towns:•Gang Mills, NY: 3:41-4:30•Corning, NY: 8:18-9:54, Market Street: 10:22-11:04•Elmira, NY: 12:51-14:31, 15:44-17:052. Following the flood, Corning, NY was able to recover and reinvent itself into theflourishing city it is today: 1:00:45-1:01:35, 1:03:55-1:04:153. Elmira, NY initially and presently has struggled to overcome the devastatingeffects of the flood: 1:02:10-1:03:10NYS Learning Standards:1, 3NCSS Themes:1, 2, 3, 4Discussion Questions1. What is culture? How does culture influence a community?2. Consider how Corning, NY and Elmira, NY overcame the devastation of the flood.How did each community initially respond to the disaster? In what ways have these cities reinvented themselves?3. Think of recent disasters that have affected your or another community. Has your areabeen able to overcome them? Why or why not?Activities1. Research: Students will research whether their homes are at risk for flooding. Studentswill use this website to find out information about their residences:http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/landing_pages/landing0000_1.jsp?WT.mc_id=FEMA_Google1&WT.srch=1This website provides information about the risk of living in the area, along with annualpremium cost of flood insurance and different agents in the area that can help withinsurance. Students will compare their house’s information with another classmate. Once

AGNES students have gathered the necessary information, they will rank as a class how likely it istheir community will be faced with a flood.2. Project: Make a disaster plan and emergency kit in order to prepare for a potentialdisaster that may strike your town. Outline the different ways to prepare for a potentialdisaster, and the different precautions to take. Brainstorm the items necessary for anemergency kit. Use pictures from magazines to cut out different items you need to put inyour emergency kit. If appropriate, actually gather the items necessary for the emergencykit. Be prepared to state reasons for each item chosen. Once all these tasks are complete,write a plan detailing a safe spot to reconnect with family/housemates after the disasteronset. The FEMA website provides many ideas for kits (http://www.fema.gov)3. Research: Make a chart to compare and contrast different cultural responses todisasters worldwide. Choose two other areas that have been struck by disasters in the past10 years. Compare and contrast the responses of those areas to those of the southern tierof New York. Keep in mind the following questions: Have these areas been able torecover and rebuild? How did the cultures of the areas impact disaster response?1. Source: Elmira during post flood: Elmira businesses, workers, kids, canals:Immigrants singingElmira, NY is an area rich in immigrants and culture. This is reflected inlighthearted gatherings following the flood.

AGNES 2. Source: Gang Mills Painted Post: Gang Mills: Fire Dept giving kids circusticketsA pivotal part of the Gang Mills, NY culture is the fire department, a group of individualsthat are always there for the community, whether during fun activities for children orduring the flood of ’72 and the aftermath that followed.3. Source: Corning: Post Flood, Double Decker BusMarket Street in Corning, NY was the main business area on the Southside of Corningthat was severely flooded. Shortly after the flood, it was rebuilt into the flourishinghistoric district it is today.