Dam Break in Georgia: Sadness and Joy at Toccoa Falls

by Foster K

Book looks like new, small amount of underling noted inside.

Genres: Nonfiction

159 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1996

Reviews

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this book five stars, not because of the incredible writing skills, but because of the impact it has had on my heart while reading it! Wow!!!! This is a true story that took place in Ga back in the 1970’s. I would highly encourage everyone to read it!

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an extraordinary little volume of faith. With vivid descriptions of loss of life, this book shares the impact of devotion and faith in the face of disaster. I especially appreciated the description of what happened, the individual family stories, and the description of evangelical faith. The best thing in the book for me was the bible passages at the end of each chapter. Somehow, this book does draw the reader deeper into faith without being preachy.

[Kenneth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very strange book about a somehow obscure event that took place in a remote corner in Georgia back in November 1977. A man made earthen dam broke after a three day rainfall and wiped away one third of a small town college campus, killing 39 men. women and children.
This book is a collection of their "testimonies" of faith, along with their harrowing experiences told.
There is a brief introduction by former first lady Rosalynn Carter but there is little professionalism in the journalism here from the book's two authors. The difficult questions are not asked, and there is no probing on as to how this event could have happened, or even had been avoided.
The survivors stories are fascinating and moving. There is however a strange, reoccurring theme, a kind of "Oh well" 'Whatever happens" mentality. In their common faith, when your "time comes", it simply comes. If you don't survive the disaster, then it simply means that Jesus was 'Ready to take you". This thinking, inserted into the tragic reality of what happened at Toccoa Falls, becomes quite disheartening, especially when it involves the death of small children.

The students and faculty of this small school have the freedom to believe what they will.
However, they should not slander the Creator or His Son, Christ Jesus by applying their own thinking to them.
As the faithful man Job learned centuries ago: "So listen to me, you men of understanding:
It is unthinkable for the true God to act wickedly,For the Almighty to do wrong! For he will reward a man according to what he does a and bring upon him the consequences of his ways.
For a certainty, God does not act wickedly; The Almighty does not pervert justice."

[Katelyn Snell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't recommend this book enough. The faith of these people is inspiring. The survivors could've let despair and grief overcome them, but they choose to focus on God and help each other get through the next few months/years.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful testimonies for Christ by those who suffered this terrible tragedy. Inspirational.

[Janelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sad, thought-provoking but hope-filled recounting of the 1977 Toccoa Falls dam break. Somewhat choppy style.

[Trenton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a collection of the flood victims' experiences as related by the author in a heavy religious sauce who presumably obtained the details from the victims. The emotional and dramatic style of the personal accounts fit well into the zeitgeist of that era, but the religious emphasis soon cloys. The author is not unjustified in casting the event in a religious context given that the college struck by the flood was (and still is) a bible college, but the frequent implication of the flood as "God's Will" seems absurd when compared to the facts given in the subsequent report, "The 1977 Toccoa Flood, Report of Failure of Kelly Barnes Dam Flood and Findings" by the USGS.

There were four straight days of heavy rain. The earthen dam was built over the original rock crib dam of 1899 with no known engineering standards. It was modified at some times. A slide and seepage occurred in or just before 1973. Proper inspections were lacking. Silt and soil were used instead of proper clay. Vegetation was allowed to grow on the dam allowing roots to damage the integrity of the dam. And the report states, "The Board could not determine a sole cause of the November 6, failure. It does conclude that a combination of factors caused the failure. The most probable causes are a local slide on the steep downstream slope probably associated with piping, an attendant localized breach in the crest followed by progressive erosion, saturation of the downstream embankment, and subsequently a total collapse of the structure." So, hardly a mysterious manifestation of "God's Will."

The personal stories are various which creates interest for the reader. In some cases it is possible to find survivors with an online search. Naturally, most of them entered "the ministry" and are still there. In one case a survivor lost his family, but remarried less than a year later. A consensus observation seems to be that the giant wave of water from the breached dam was sudden and very devastating. Most of the victims were in Trailerville (the book's term, not mine). The lightweight trailers didn't stand a chance. Families were torn asunder in the dark of night, sometimes inches away from a hand grasp. One part lived, another part died.

[Jeff Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

After visiting Toccoa Falls College this week, I was fascinated by the stories behind the tragedy. It was a disaster that happened in mere minutes that took 39 lives, including many children, connected to the college. The book tells the stories of the survivors and what they experienced during that November night in 1977. Their faith was remarkable and focus of the narrative. I would like to know more about the days, weeks, and months following the disaster, and where are these survivors now. How did they move forward? How did the sadness, despair, and lonely emptiness effect them later? But perhaps the most nagging question for me is why were they in fragile trailers in the bottom of a ravine below a lake? Who builds a settlement there? And after five days of continuous rain why had they not evacuated?

[Teresa Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story behind the book is heart wrenching. The first hand accounts had me in tears. This is a great read for anyone wrestling with God’s roll in the hardships of life. The book is also very easy/quick to read because it is a compilation of first hand accounts of the disastrous dam break. Why only three stars? I felt this book was poorly written. Some of the writing jumps around to the point of losing me. There are multiple errors (grammatical, word choice, flow of the story, etc) which I found to be very distracting. Someone missed an opportunity here for a much better book.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of this catastrophic event. Presented via interviews with survivors. These strong people got through by leaning on God and giving Him all the glory. I will be researching this further.

[Kim]

Moving account of heart breaking loss and great faith.

[MaryAnn Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad story but good at the same time.

[Thomas Sauder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing stories of God's provision of grace and strength during and after the dam broke above Toccoa Falls.

[Chrystal Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me two days to finish this book. The faith these people have puts me to shame

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went and saw the college and the falls recently so was very interested in reading the book. Heartbreaking and faith filled all at the same time. What a testimony the survivors had.

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, home-made story, but gratefully factual.

[Lydia C Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible story❤️

[Bart Breen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent insight into tragedy and a Community's response

First I should disclose that I am an acquaintance of the author, who has had the privilege of interaction with him in Church and Ministry.

That having been said, I read this book long before I ever met Dr. Foster and it had an impact on my life then.

The Toccoa Falls Dam break in Georgia brought national focus on a small Christian School that suffered the brunt of destruction and loss of life. In so doing, the opportunity was presented to see if Christian faith really could make a difference when tragedy struck.

It did.

The personal stories told that recount the experiences of survivors, families and friends of lost faculty and students are presented and portrayed in a non-sensational manner. Nevertheless the presentations are personal, real and don't attempt to gloss over the pain and suffering. Woven throughout, however is a continual theme of hope and joy that reflects the outlook of that community of faith.

Inspirational, but also educational and helpful to others who have faced tragedy in their lives and wonder if God is really there.

[Lisa Rathbun]

I never knew that this had happened, and when I found it on the shelf at a small Christian school, I was fascinated and horrified. So many people died - so many children! And yet the survivors still declared their love and trust in God. What a testimony. I boohooed my way though most of this book, especially thinking of the poor little children. The book is short; the writing style forgettable; but the stories are unforgettable.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when it was first published, and then again when I attended Toccoa Falls College. Being in the same spots that were detailed in the book, and seeing lasting marks left by the devastation, as well as meeting and knowing people mentioned in the book that went through that terrible tragedy, really struck home.

An amazing read of unspeakable sorrow and pain, and the truly amazing grace of God in bringing the survivors and the College through that time.

[Reb Loo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging profiles about the staff and students who found themselves in the path of this devastating flood. I read this book as a young girl shortly after the true events and was impacted by the photos, life stories, and loss. A few months ago during a trip to Georgia, we visited the college and saw the beautiful falls.