Changes

The Drought alone did not cause the black blizzards. Although dry spells are unavoidable in the region—they occurred roughly every 25 years— it was the combination of drought and misuse of the land that led to the incredible devastation of the Dust Bowl. Originally covered with grasses that held the fine soil in place, the land of the southern plains was plowed by settlers who brought their farming techniques with them when they homesteaded the area. Wheat crops, in high demand during [[World War I]], exhausted the topsoil. Overgrazing by cattle and sheep herds stripped the western plains of their cover. When the drought hit, the land just blew away in the wind.  

The Drought alone did not cause the black blizzards. Although dry spells are unavoidable in the region—they occurred roughly every 25 years— it was the combination of drought and misuse of the land that led to the incredible devastation of the Dust Bowl. Originally covered with grasses that held the fine soil in place, the land of the southern plains was plowed by settlers who brought their farming techniques with them when they homesteaded the area. Wheat crops, in high demand during [[World War I]], exhausted the topsoil. Overgrazing by cattle and sheep herds stripped the western plains of their cover. When the drought hit, the land just blew away in the wind.  

An Oklahoma woman recalled June of 1935:

An Oklahoma woman recalled June 1935:

<blockquote>"In the dust-covered desolation of our No Man's Land here, wearing our shade hats, with handkerchiefs tied over our faces and vaseline in our nostrils, we have been trying to rescue our home from the wind-blown dust which penetrates wherever air can go. It is almost a hopeless task, for there is rarely a day when at some time the dust clouds do not roll over. 'Visibility' approaches zero and everything is covered again with a silt-like deposit which may vary in depth from a film to actual ripples on the kitchen floor."</blockquote>  

<blockquote>"In the dust-covered desolation of our No Man's Land here, wearing our shade hats, with handkerchiefs tied over our faces and vaseline in our nostrils, we have been trying to rescue our home from the wind-blown dust which penetrates wherever air can go. It is almost a hopeless task, for there is rarely a day when at some time the dust clouds do not roll over. 'Visibility' approaches zero and everything is covered again with a silt-like deposit which may vary in depth from a film to actual ripples on the kitchen floor."</blockquote>  

[[Category:Great Depression]]

[[Category:Great Depression]]

[[Category:New Deal]]

[[Category:New Deal]]

[[category:Western United States]]

[[Category:Western United States]]

[[category:Farmers]]

[[Category:Farmers]]