John G. Fuller (1913–1990)

This book is an amazing read as an emergency manager. It highlights the whole cycle of when you know something is going to happen but no one believes you, followed by the event happening and the community resiliency. The text sometimes fails to tie everything together between each area very tightly: it is written as separate "segments" that I wish were tied together a little closer. Each segment has a different level of detail, some more than others; however if the segments were tied together with a thread, I think the book would be a bit more cohesive and a better read.… (más)

Don't let the 1968 publication date deter you. It reads like "Radium Girls" as the entire village of Pont-Saint-Esprit succumbs to horrific chaos one night in August, 1951.

One morning the town baker, M. Monier, was having difficulty with the flour shipped to him by the Union Meunière. It was grayish in color, somewhat sticky with an oily texture. By contract, only the Union could investigate which could take weeks but the baker wasn't allowed to close either. Having no choice, he blends the gray flour with the rest, which appeared fine after baking. The result is mass ergot poisoning and honestly it reminded me of the opening scenes of "The Crazies." Abdominal pain, shivering, euphoria, dilated pupils, an "odor of mice" and increased saliva until finally tetanuslike convulsions, a compulsion for suicide, gangrene, nightmarish hallucinations and cardiac arrest. Ergotism also causes extreme insomnia. There were blood curdling screams and manic laughter. Victims wandered the streets, attacked loved ones or stared into nothing. One man, M. Puche, jumped out of a hospital window then ran 50m on broken legs.

Theories ranged from arsenic to mercury poisoning because who could believe "medieval" ergotism? It turns out a Union miller made an illegal exchange, contaminating the flour batch with ergot that contained a deadly and concentrated dose of LSD-25. The village forms an association for justice. Relapses occur for the rest of their lives, many facing serious debt after 50 days of recovery. M. Delacquis, the leader, lost sight in one eye, another M. Carle is unable to walk with stability. Five people died during the initial infection but many more from side effects. In the end it took 10 years for Union Meunière pay up for civil damages after shifting blame and delay.

I really couldn't put this one down because I felt for all these innocent people involved and the doctors trying their best to solve this medical mystery!… (más)

The Ghost of Flight 401 was about the crash of Eastern Airlines Flight 401 into the Everglades in 1972 and the supernatural happenings that were reported afterward. I vaguely remember the crash as my dad flew for TWA and airline crashes would be a hot topic at our house. My dad gave me the book some time ago, and now that I've read it I'll have to ask him if had heard of any of the ghost sightings - TWA leased some of Eastern's L-1011's during their slower periods.

The best and most well-written parts of the book for me were the description of the passengers and crew and timeline up to the crash and its aftermath, including the rescue efforts, crash investigation and then the reporting of the ghost sightings.

The weakest parts for me were when the author waxed philosophical about the possible meaning and cause of the ghost sightings. He went on and on about how difficult it was for him to even investigate this aspect because everyone would think he was crazy and he writes about real science like nuclear power, etc. I was thinking, just get on with it - tell us what you found.… (más)