I recommend the book Johnstown Flood by McCullough. In the late 19th century, the elite had a private lake up in the Pennsylvania mountains. The dam breached and the story of the flood ensued. Great book.
I find it disheartening that so many people just cannot think and plan for themselves anymore. MCommon sense is lacking and dependency upon the nanny state has people unable to assess and plan their own lives....12 years they have known about major problems with the dam.....We moved out of southern Calif 20 years ago to AZ and have been so much better off in every way.