The most sustained roles that the WPA played related to the
construction/engineering and service projects that it undertook. But this huge
government-sponsored program, with millions of individuals under its umbrella,
also offered a veritable army of workers that could be mobilized into action to
help combat the effects and aftermaths of all types of natural disasters. WPA
workers were at the forefront of efforts to deal with many such disasters,
working alongside representatives from other government agencies, national
guard and military units, local fire and police units, and private relief
agencies. Unofficially nicknamed the "Shock Troops of Disaster,"
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the WPA had
some of its finest hours in these great times of need for many communities.
Whether responding to crises involving floods, fires, hurricanes, or drought,
workers of the WPA provided countless hours of service in an effort to help
individuals and communities weather these disasters and recover from them.
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An
outstanding example of the Indiana WPA's role in disaster relief came in 1937,
when it was mobilized to provide assistance to a number
of communities in the Ohio River valley which had suffered
the ravages of flooding.
| Construction/Engineering Projects | || | Service Projects | || | Response to Disaster |
WPA Projects in Indiana
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