From The Charleroi Mail, Charleroi PA, Wednesday, June 28, 1944, page 6:
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LETTER CARRIED BY TORNADO 100 MILES HAS BEEN DELIVERED
Washington, Pa., June 28--(UP)-- A letter apparently carried some 100 miles by last Friday's tornado has been delivered to Mrs. C. A. BROWN of Washington [Pa]. The letter was written by Barry BROWN, 13, to his mother from Camp Buffalo, a YMCA camp, virtually wiped out by the storm. It was placed in a mailbox at the camp a short time before the tornado hit. When it was delivered to Mrs. BROWN, the letter was postmarked "Grantsville, Md." at 5 p. m. June 24, less than a day after the storm. Grantsville is about 100 miles from the camp. The letter was in good condition, but somewhat dirty and muddy, and the stamp was nearly off. |
Note: When a tornado or flood occurs in a rural, farmlands area, it would have affected food supply greatly since local farmers would have been unable to bring corn, wheat, and other crop to local markets (or ship to outside markets). Loss of crops meant for livestock meant being unable to feed any remaining livestock without help of neighbors. Storm-related deaths of livestock and fowl meant the owners either had to quickly use up the meat from these accidental "kills"--IF the meat was deemed usable. Otherwise, if not suitable for human consumption, the carcasses were likely destroyed (burned) or buried in deep pits. Initially, more people would have been recovering from their own injuries, so during early recovery phases, it would have been harder for farmers to attend to their crops and to the living and deceased livestock, helping to prevent spread of disease, and concern themselves with rebuilding houses, barns, and farm out-buildings.
Sources:
The Charleroi Mail newspaper, Charleroi PA, numerous articles.
