The Donora Smog Disaster of 1948 is perhaps the most infamous air pollution event in American history. That weekend of horrific air quality killed 20 people and sickened thousands more, but it also galvanized residents to take environmental action - a movement that culminated in the creation of the Clean Air Act.
We hope you’ll join us at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 14 for our online event, Making the Connection: The Lessons Learned (and Unlearned) from the Donora Smog Disaster. The event will feature a panel of local experts including:
Mark Pawelec and Brian Charlton, historians from the Donora Smog Museum.
Scott Beveridge, a retired, award-winning investigative journalist from the Observer-Reporter newspaper in Washington County whose work uncovered new details about the disaster and its fallout.
Myranda Fullerton, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service.
During the 90-minute program, attendees will have the opportunity to view rare historical videos, learn from experts how U.S. Steel used a combination of public relations and victim blaming to downplay its role in the killer smog event, and hear heart-wrenching stories of personal loss and environmental damage gleaned from the pages of long-forgotten court documents.
The event is free but registration is required and can be accomplished here.