Walk through Fire

In the tradition of the bestselling Chesapeake Requiem, WALK THROUGH FIRE is the first book to examine, the Waverly Train Disaster of 1978, its impact on the rural community of Waverly, Tennessee, and its impact on the United States, as it catalyzed the formation of FEMA. Coinciding with the 45th anniversary of the event, this book is a tribute to the first responders, as well as an examination of the strengths and vulnerabilities in rural America.

On the night of February 22, 1978, a devastating freight train derailment drastically altered Waverly, Tennessee, and its place in history. This was one of the worst train explosions of the twentieth century, killing 16 people, injuring hundreds more, and causing millions of dollars in damage.

What could have been dismissed as a single community's terrible misfortune instead became the catalyst for radical change, including the formation of FEMA, much-needed reforms in emergency response training,…