Walk through Fire: The Train Disaster that Changed America
- Downloads：8933
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2023-02-26 16:21:49
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Yasmine S. Ali, MD
- ISBN：B0B35BWJXS
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Susan
，
Current headlines unfortunately prove that Dr。 Yasmine Ali's absorbing real-life drama here could not be more timely or alarming， an astonishing 45 years later。 We are drawn into a minute-by-minute playback of the events of February 1978 in tiny Waverly， Tennessee， when a freight train derailed and the subsequent rupture of two cars filled with propane set off a killing， maiming inferno of epic proportions。 Because Dr。 Ali's parents lived in Waverly with their very young daughters and worked at Current headlines unfortunately prove that Dr。 Yasmine Ali's absorbing real-life drama here could not be more timely or alarming， an astonishing 45 years later。 We are drawn into a minute-by-minute playback of the events of February 1978 in tiny Waverly， Tennessee， when a freight train derailed and the subsequent rupture of two cars filled with propane set off a killing， maiming inferno of epic proportions。 Because Dr。 Ali's parents lived in Waverly with their very young daughters and worked at the town's hospital， Nautilus （her father being the sole surgeon on staff）， she grew up knowing many of the town's public servants， health personnel， and community and business leaders who had all been impacted in big and small ways by this catastrophe。 No one had a more intimate relationship with the plight of the explosion victims in the aftermath than Dr。 Ali's surgeon dad， through whose hands passed countless burn victims， many unrecognizable。 His courageous， unstinting service on that day， bolstered by his wife， the nursing staff， and a host of unsung heroes from the workaday Waverly community， saved many， many lives。 Equally important， the Waverly disaster was the catalyst for major legislative changes to regulate railway safety measures that could have prevented this and other similar tragedies for many， many years， and it also became the impetus for the founding of one centralized federal agency， FEMA， to replace the piecemeal patchwork of agencies tasked with handling previous disasters of this magnitude， both natural and manmade。 Dr。 Yasmine Ali writes with compassion， precision， and appreciation for every town character she brings into her spotlight from that fateful weekend， and her first-hand history lessons shine because of the personalities she infuses them all with。 As hard as it must have been for her to listen to her family and neighbors relive the terrible events of 1978 for her research， we are all the better for it， and fortunate to witness the courage and resolve of small-town America at its best， and the common good for the whole country that arose from these ashes。 Compelling journalistic nonfiction at its best。 。。。more
Susan Keller
，
A very thorough and well written account of the 1978 rain disaster in Waverly， Tennessee。 The book is filled with first person accounts that bring the derailing and the subsequent explosion into vivid detail。 Although 16 persons lost their lives， quick， professional work by the doctors and nurses at the nearby local hospital saved many。 As I was reading about this disaster， the train derailment and fire in Ohio happened。
Perrin Larton
，
What an absolutely fascinating book！ I was vaguely aware of the Waverly train disaster since my husband is a train buff。 He also was on a FEMA task force that went to NYC after September 11th 2001。 so knew the history of FEMA more thoroughly than I。 We both have a background in emergency services and had discussed disaster management and when it began。 This book filled in so many blanks in my understanding。I was on the edge of my seat many times as Dr。 Ali was counting down to the time of the di What an absolutely fascinating book！ I was vaguely aware of the Waverly train disaster since my husband is a train buff。 He also was on a FEMA task force that went to NYC after September 11th 2001。 so knew the history of FEMA more thoroughly than I。 We both have a background in emergency services and had discussed disaster management and when it began。 This book filled in so many blanks in my understanding。I was on the edge of my seat many times as Dr。 Ali was counting down to the time of the disaster。 Knowing this was a true story， I didn't want to get to know the people who would ultimately lose their lives。 I enjoyed the narrative and how the author took remembrances from those who were actually there， and brought their memories to life。 The scenes of the hospital emergency room and how the authors parents， both doctors， worked to try to save lives was riveting。 I wanted to yell my encouragement to her father when he jumped on a table and told everyone he was in charge！ What a fabulous man。The portion of the book that spoke about the changes that took place after the disaster， was needed， but for me dragged a bit。 I am still a bit angry about all of the bureaucracy that played a part in this disaster， and getting help to those in need。 I shed a few tears at the end of the book reading about those who perished and those who's lives changed in a split second。 Where they were then and where they are now。A fine historical account of a train derailment in a small town， that had national significance in the way we handle disasters， domestically and abroad。 。。。more
Tamara
，
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this arc。 This was well written and heartbreaking as well。 I had never heard about this crash before reading this story。
Audrey
，
This is top notch narrative non-fiction about a train wreck of epic proportions and the disaster that followed。 It also shows how a small town in Tennessee， navigated this ramifications of the train wreck， especially the doctors and nurses of a small， local hospital， who valiantly tried to save the survivors。 Ultimately， this disaster led to the creation of FEMA。 But most of all， this is the author's love letter to her parents and her home town。 For readers of Lizzie Johnson， Kirk Wallace Johnso This is top notch narrative non-fiction about a train wreck of epic proportions and the disaster that followed。 It also shows how a small town in Tennessee， navigated this ramifications of the train wreck， especially the doctors and nurses of a small， local hospital， who valiantly tried to save the survivors。 Ultimately， this disaster led to the creation of FEMA。 But most of all， this is the author's love letter to her parents and her home town。 For readers of Lizzie Johnson， Kirk Wallace Johnson and Patrick Radden Keefe。I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own。 。。。more
Brendan Dowd
，
Ever heard of the Waverly Train Disaster of 1978？ No， I hadn't either。 However， I am glad Yasmine Ali rectified that situation。Ali， who grew up in Waverly， TN and whose parents feature prominently in the narrative， tells the story of a train derailment which turned into a massive explosion well after the crash。 The explosion would leave hundreds injured and 16 dead。 The aftermath would lead to the creation of FEMA in the U。S。The good parts of this book are very good。 Ali writes about Waverly in Ever heard of the Waverly Train Disaster of 1978？ No， I hadn't either。 However， I am glad Yasmine Ali rectified that situation。Ali， who grew up in Waverly， TN and whose parents feature prominently in the narrative， tells the story of a train derailment which turned into a massive explosion well after the crash。 The explosion would leave hundreds injured and 16 dead。 The aftermath would lead to the creation of FEMA in the U。S。The good parts of this book are very good。 Ali writes about Waverly in a very loving manner and her familiarity with the people of the town makes her prose that much more effective。 She does not dwell too long on any one person or event and the increasing tension is palpable before the explosion。 Ali's medical training also adds to the story but she never gets too deep into "doctor speak。" When Ali is focused on the people and the train disaster， this book is excellent。 I have some minor quibbles。 The section on legislation and the creation of FEMA slows down the book overall。 Other disaster books usually need to talk about long， drawn out court battles but there wasn't much to speak of after Waverly。 FEMA just sort of seemed inevitable as opposed to a true call to action over insurmountable odds。The only other criticism is the explosion is not explained in depth。 There are recollections from people in Waverly when it happened， but there is no cohesive section explaining exactly what happened when everything finally ignited。 Again， this is a very minor detail and did not inhibit my enjoyment of the book。 I definitely recommend it for anyone who enjoys books of people or towns overcoming tragedy。（This book was provided to me as an advance copy by Netgalley and Kensington Books。 The full review will be posted to HistoryNerdsUnited。com on 2/23/2023。） 。。。more
Jill
，
starsWalk through FireYasmine Ali Wow！ This is an absolutely fascinating and in-depth look at the train wreck/explosion that happened in Waverly Tn in 1978。 The author， a lifelong resident of Waverly and daughter of two of the small town doctors who treated the patients， has extensively researched what happened and talked as many people as possible。 This is a true must-read book。 Ms。 Ali makes the reader feel as though they are right there in the midst of things as the events are unfolding。I hi starsWalk through FireYasmine Ali Wow！ This is an absolutely fascinating and in-depth look at the train wreck/explosion that happened in Waverly Tn in 1978。 The author， a lifelong resident of Waverly and daughter of two of the small town doctors who treated the patients， has extensively researched what happened and talked as many people as possible。 This is a true must-read book。 Ms。 Ali makes the reader feel as though they are right there in the midst of things as the events are unfolding。I highly recommend this book。I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley。 。。。more
Darya Silman
，