"The Johnstown Flood" In the spring of 1889, the heavy rains had damaged the dam up the valley from Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Workers attempted to repair the damage. Leaks appeared. Then water began to trickle over the top. A message of warning was sent to the valley below, but the telegraph lines were down and the message was never received. Then on May 31, 1889, a section gave way. The dam broke. With a mighty roar, twenty million tons of water raced down the valley sweeping Johnstown away. 2,000 people died in the flood. Choose the best summary of this newspaper story. Question 3 options: The Johnstown flood began as a small trickle and ended with a mighty roar. Heavy rains caused a flood in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Although the city was warned of a possible flood, few people left the city. Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was destroyed by a huge flood when the dam above the city burst.