Essay On Surviving the Dust Bowl

Can you ever imagine living through dust storms that ravaged your farm? Perhaps even killed your friends and family? Though that will never likely happen to you, it affected people in the past and it was devastating, to say the least. The Dust Bowl occurred through the years 1932 to 1940. Powerful dust storms had a large and negative impact on farming and overall life in the Great Plains.

Operations such as dentistry and surgical procedures were put at great risk, which also increased the chances of one becoming hurt physically by the dust storms. Dentists and surgeons struggled to keep their tools clean and uncontaminated due to the deadly, incessant dust (Source 1, P8). People were also unable to leave their homes and had to take the precautions necessary to seal every crevice or anything vulnerable in their household to prevent dust from spurring into their homes (Source 2, P6), so, if somebody were to become injured, it was not safe enough to go to their local hospital. The dust clouds were pure darkness, so if anybody were to go out into the storm, they'd become lost and perish (Source 1, P4).

The storms had a great effect on ones mental health. People were often worried for their loved ones who had gone out into the storm, and when and IF those loved ones came back, they were impacted by the storm (Source 2, P8). The dust storms also caused casualties (Source 1, P4), and from experience, it is hard having to overcome loss. Imagine having to deal with somebody's death while also experiencing a deadly dust storm. The dust storms also frightened families, due to the roofs and windows of houses vibrating and dust sometimes seeping in (Source 2, P4).

The Dust Bowl forced people out of their homes, causing them to become practically homeless. Money, belongings, food, and so much more was all left for the dust storm to consume. Due to the hardships the storms posed, people evacuated and abandoned their farms and homes (Source 1, P8). Attics of homes collapsed. Tractors were engulfed by the dust (Source 1, P4). All of those unfavorable events pushed people to leave. With attics collapsed, it made the house vulnerable to even more dust coming in. They were helpless.

The Dust Bowl had nothing but a negative effect on people. Medical operations were putting people at risk due to possible contamination. People's mental health was affected because they often had to face loss and worry. People were displaced from their own homes due to the disaster the storms inflicted upon them. We should all be grateful that we never lived through those dark times- and recognize the people who did. It truly took a lot of willpower to stay strong- mentally and physically, during the Dust Bowl.