Mike Bilder
@chasing36and72.bsky.social
A different kind of ⛈️ chaser. Storm & response historian. Author of two forthcoming books about the 1936 Flood & Hurricane Agnes (1972). Day job: Hurricane Prog. Manager / HLT Lead for FEMA Region 3 (VA, MD, DE, DC, PA, WV). Formerly NWS.
Yet again, there's an impressive & visually appealing historical landfall location map making the rounds on social media. As evident in this slide I researched & created, the Mid-Atlantic has a long & tragic tropical history. Imagine zero entries on this slide. That's the story landfall maps tell.
April 11, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Yet again, there's an impressive & visually appealing historical landfall location map making the rounds on social media. As evident in this slide I researched & created, the Mid-Atlantic has a long & tragic tropical history. Imagine zero entries on this slide. That's the story landfall maps tell.
How many compounding factors do you see in this newsreel about the #1936Flood? This is what you would have seen if you had gone to the movies 89 years ago this week. The compounding nature of the flood & the historic winter of 1935/36 that led to it will be a major theme in my book.
March 21, 2025 at 3:07 AM
How many compounding factors do you see in this newsreel about the #1936Flood? This is what you would have seen if you had gone to the movies 89 years ago this week. The compounding nature of the flood & the historic winter of 1935/36 that led to it will be a major theme in my book.
I have recently connected with a descendant of George E. Gore — one of the journalists whose footage is included in this Universal newsreel. She has been very helpful w/ my book on the overall #1936Flood, which will highlight the remarkable story of the “the 2nd Johnstown Flood.”
March 19, 2025 at 2:29 AM
I have recently connected with a descendant of George E. Gore — one of the journalists whose footage is included in this Universal newsreel. She has been very helpful w/ my book on the overall #1936Flood, which will highlight the remarkable story of the “the 2nd Johnstown Flood.”
Btw the 2nd book I will write will focus on one of the floods that challenged the #1936Flood's standing: Hurricane Agnes (1972)...
Here are some of the maps I did for #Agnes50 (for comparison)
Here are some of the maps I did for #Agnes50 (for comparison)
March 17, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Btw the 2nd book I will write will focus on one of the floods that challenged the #1936Flood's standing: Hurricane Agnes (1972)...
Here are some of the maps I did for #Agnes50 (for comparison)
Here are some of the maps I did for #Agnes50 (for comparison)
It is no wonder that this was the #1936Flood that finally convinced Congress to invest federal funds in flood control for the *entire* country via the Flood Control Act of 1936. This was one of the most important pieces of legislation to be enacted during the #NewDeal.
March 17, 2025 at 12:43 PM
It is no wonder that this was the #1936Flood that finally convinced Congress to invest federal funds in flood control for the *entire* country via the Flood Control Act of 1936. This was one of the most important pieces of legislation to be enacted during the #NewDeal.
Note how many pop centers/metro areas in 12 🇺🇸 states + DC & 3 🇨🇦 provinces were impacted *simultaneously* by major-stage flooding. This includes our nation's capital, 9 state capitals, and 1 provincial capital.
March 17, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Note how many pop centers/metro areas in 12 🇺🇸 states + DC & 3 🇨🇦 provinces were impacted *simultaneously* by major-stage flooding. This includes our nation's capital, 9 state capitals, and 1 provincial capital.
As you can see, *the widespread severity & longstanding legacy of the #1936Flood (even after nearly 90 yrs) is unprecedented.* Having analyzed every NWPS page in most of the eastern U.S., I can confirm that few floods come close to matching the scope and records of 1936.
March 17, 2025 at 12:43 PM
As you can see, *the widespread severity & longstanding legacy of the #1936Flood (even after nearly 90 yrs) is unprecedented.* Having analyzed every NWPS page in most of the eastern U.S., I can confirm that few floods come close to matching the scope and records of 1936.
As part of my research, I meticulously checked the data from *every* river gauge in the Mid-Atlantic, New England & Ohio Valley to map both the #1936Flood's severity & where it still reigns in the Top 5 crests. Here are the static versions (interactive versions in next post of 🧵):
March 17, 2025 at 12:43 PM
As part of my research, I meticulously checked the data from *every* river gauge in the Mid-Atlantic, New England & Ohio Valley to map both the #1936Flood's severity & where it still reigns in the Top 5 crests. Here are the static versions (interactive versions in next post of 🧵):
Special Update 🧵
Today is the 89th Anniv. of the start of the #1936Flood — a good opp to update everyone on the book. I'm 2 yrs into researching & writing. Given the flood's complicated nature & massive geographic scope, it has been a huge effort that is 💯 done during offhours.
Today is the 89th Anniv. of the start of the #1936Flood — a good opp to update everyone on the book. I'm 2 yrs into researching & writing. Given the flood's complicated nature & massive geographic scope, it has been a huge effort that is 💯 done during offhours.
March 17, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Special Update 🧵
Today is the 89th Anniv. of the start of the #1936Flood — a good opp to update everyone on the book. I'm 2 yrs into researching & writing. Given the flood's complicated nature & massive geographic scope, it has been a huge effort that is 💯 done during offhours.
Today is the 89th Anniv. of the start of the #1936Flood — a good opp to update everyone on the book. I'm 2 yrs into researching & writing. Given the flood's complicated nature & massive geographic scope, it has been a huge effort that is 💯 done during offhours.
Tune in tomorrow morning for a *big* research/content drop related to the book…. Here is a clue…
March 16, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Tune in tomorrow morning for a *big* research/content drop related to the book…. Here is a clue…
I’m posting this pic w/ the permission of Brotzman’s family. It’s clear that he’s holding a fleece in one hand to represent the 🐑, but we are having the darnedest time figuring out what he’s holding to represent the 🦁. They look like lamb chops, but that wouldn’t fit. Do you want to take a guess?
March 11, 2025 at 12:55 AM
I’m posting this pic w/ the permission of Brotzman’s family. It’s clear that he’s holding a fleece in one hand to represent the 🐑, but we are having the darnedest time figuring out what he’s holding to represent the 🦁. They look like lamb chops, but that wouldn’t fit. Do you want to take a guess?
My best guess is sometime after 1924, when Brotzman became MIC and his local celebrity status skyrocketed. In 1934, the Pittsburgh office moved to the new U.S. Post Office and Courthouse Building on Grant Street.
March 11, 2025 at 12:55 AM
My best guess is sometime after 1924, when Brotzman became MIC and his local celebrity status skyrocketed. In 1934, the Pittsburgh office moved to the new U.S. Post Office and Courthouse Building on Grant Street.
For NWS history nerds: this was taken inside WFO Pittsburgh when it was in the Oliver Building (today the Embassy Suites) in downtown Pittsburgh. I haven’t been able to find the newspaper that printed it, but I know it must have been taken sometime between 1915 and 1934.
March 11, 2025 at 12:55 AM
For NWS history nerds: this was taken inside WFO Pittsburgh when it was in the Oliver Building (today the Embassy Suites) in downtown Pittsburgh. I haven’t been able to find the newspaper that printed it, but I know it must have been taken sometime between 1915 and 1934.
Little did he know that all of his obits would cite March 1936 as his life-defining moment…
March 11, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Little did he know that all of his obits would cite March 1936 as his life-defining moment…
Much like his modern counterparts, Brotzman always took the opportunity to encourage everyone to pay less attention to catchy proverbs & instead prepare for the wide variety of hazards that can happen at any point in March.
March 11, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Much like his modern counterparts, Brotzman always took the opportunity to encourage everyone to pay less attention to catchy proverbs & instead prepare for the wide variety of hazards that can happen at any point in March.
In the early 20th century, newspapers would subject local U.S. Weather Bureau (today the National Weather Service) meteorologists to the annual ritual of having to address the proverb’s legitimacy. As you can see in the press photo above, the media often did these stories with much fanfare.
March 11, 2025 at 12:55 AM
In the early 20th century, newspapers would subject local U.S. Weather Bureau (today the National Weather Service) meteorologists to the annual ritual of having to address the proverb’s legitimacy. As you can see in the press photo above, the media often did these stories with much fanfare.
Do you want to help solve a “In like a Lion 🦁 Out like a Lamb 🐑” mystery?
Pictured here is William S. Brotzman — legendary Meteorologist-in-Charge at the U.S. Weather Bureau (today NWS) office in Pittsburgh, and one of the central figures in my forthcoming book on the Great Flood of 1936. 🧵
Pictured here is William S. Brotzman — legendary Meteorologist-in-Charge at the U.S. Weather Bureau (today NWS) office in Pittsburgh, and one of the central figures in my forthcoming book on the Great Flood of 1936. 🧵
March 11, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Do you want to help solve a “In like a Lion 🦁 Out like a Lamb 🐑” mystery?
Pictured here is William S. Brotzman — legendary Meteorologist-in-Charge at the U.S. Weather Bureau (today NWS) office in Pittsburgh, and one of the central figures in my forthcoming book on the Great Flood of 1936. 🧵
Pictured here is William S. Brotzman — legendary Meteorologist-in-Charge at the U.S. Weather Bureau (today NWS) office in Pittsburgh, and one of the central figures in my forthcoming book on the Great Flood of 1936. 🧵
For that, we should be thankful for President Carter's vision and leadership during times of domestic crisis.
/end
/end
December 30, 2024 at 4:05 AM
For that, we should be thankful for President Carter's vision and leadership during times of domestic crisis.
/end
/end
The creation of FEMA didn't solve all of our emergency management needs overnight. It's still an agency that is learning hard lessons & continuously improving from them. Yet FEMA's establishment is a huge milestone in the history of emergency response & management. 5/6
December 30, 2024 at 4:05 AM
The creation of FEMA didn't solve all of our emergency management needs overnight. It's still an agency that is learning hard lessons & continuously improving from them. Yet FEMA's establishment is a huge milestone in the history of emergency response & management. 5/6
The nuclear accident at Three Mile Island (TMI) in March 1979 offered Carter a🪟of opportunity. He quickly issued EO 12127, establishing FEMA in the middle of the TMI response. Carter used EO 12148 later that year to shore-up the consolidation needed to fully implement FEMA. 4/6
December 30, 2024 at 4:05 AM
The nuclear accident at Three Mile Island (TMI) in March 1979 offered Carter a🪟of opportunity. He quickly issued EO 12127, establishing FEMA in the middle of the TMI response. Carter used EO 12148 later that year to shore-up the consolidation needed to fully implement FEMA. 4/6
The initial announcement in 1978 of FEMA's impending formation came after a series of high-profile controversial disaster responses in the 1970s, esp. the response to Hurricane Agnes (1972). But the long & tragic path to needing an agency like FEMA stretches back to the early Republic. 3/6
December 30, 2024 at 4:05 AM
The initial announcement in 1978 of FEMA's impending formation came after a series of high-profile controversial disaster responses in the 1970s, esp. the response to Hurricane Agnes (1972). But the long & tragic path to needing an agency like FEMA stretches back to the early Republic. 3/6
He wasn't the 1st president to tackle the issue of centralizing fed-level emergency management functions. But it was the stroke of his 🖊️ on the Pres. Reorganization Plan # 3 of 1978, E.O. 12127 (3/31/1979) & 12148 (7/20/1979), that accomplished it via the creation of FEMA 2/6
December 30, 2024 at 4:05 AM
He wasn't the 1st president to tackle the issue of centralizing fed-level emergency management functions. But it was the stroke of his 🖊️ on the Pres. Reorganization Plan # 3 of 1978, E.O. 12127 (3/31/1979) & 12148 (7/20/1979), that accomplished it via the creation of FEMA 2/6
RIP to Former President Jimmy Carter. How did he play a major role in the history of U.S. emergency response and management? See thread below. 👇🧵⛑️⛈️🇺🇸 1/6
December 30, 2024 at 4:05 AM
RIP to Former President Jimmy Carter. How did he play a major role in the history of U.S. emergency response and management? See thread below. 👇🧵⛑️⛈️🇺🇸 1/6