Violent, unpredictable weather has brought down ships from War of 1812 schooners to the legendary Edmund Fitzgerald. On shore, great fires have devastated the young cities of Chicago and Toronto, and cut huge swaths through the forests leaving thousands dead or homeless. Train wrecks, explosions and environmental disasters such as the Love Canal have become painful catalysts of change. The human core in all its complexity is revealed by the many compelling ways people respond in times of crisis. Richly told and illustrated, this book includes a concise list of the worst catastrophes in the history of the Great Lakes region, both American and Canadian.