The Oklahoma Tribune ( sample newspaper from 1934)

Lowest Recorded Precipitation

In Tulsa, Oklahoma very little rain has fallen. Tulsa, like the neighboring towns have recorded the lowest amount of rainfall for the spring in the last three years. The average rainfall per month in May previously has been 3.5 inches, but for the last three years rainfall has been less than 0.4 inches. This long lasting drought has devastated the agriculture in the region.

Black Blizzards

Thirty eight dust storms have been reported this year. Severe drought combined with over plowed and over grazed land caused this phenomenon. The drought is the worst ever in U.S. history, covering more than 75 percent of the country and affecting 27 states severely. If you see a dust storm approaching, find shelter and cover your moth with a wet cloth. "The Red Cross issued an urgent call for dust masks, especially for children." Although school children are provided with gauze masks, their effectiveness is meager as the dust is too fine and too prevalent for these stopgap actions.

Sadly, dirt proves to be a constant problem with no palliative solutions. Vaseline and various fats are used to try and keep the throat clear. The windows and doors to most homes have wet sheets covering them to keep out the dust. Cracks are covered with tape or clothes soaked in paraffin, but these vain attempts still let enough dirt in to make food and water gritty. Because the doors are also blocked the residents have to climb out the front door as if it were a snowstorm, Cella Schmidt of Spearman said, " I saw my family empty the dust out of the house after a storm. They filled large wheat scoops over and over with loads of dirt."

Goverment Help

The Emergency Farm Mortgage Act allots $200 million in refinancing mortgages to help farmers facing foreclosure. The Farm Credit Act has establisherd local banks and set up local credit associations.

**** Students - click on to the link page and complete the interactive web quests about the dust bowl - have fun!****