Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 6 days ago
In 1915, in order to fill the Morena Reservoir as quickly as possible, the City of San Diego hired a rainmaker named Charles Hatfield to put an end to a years long drought. The rains that would come, whether brought on by the rainmaker or not, led to the worst disaster in the city's history.
The Rainmaker began his work at Lake Morena in early 1916, and shortly thereafter it rained in Southern California for almost two weeks straight. In San Diego roads and bridges were destroyed, rivers flooded, and the telephone was taken out. The only way to reach the city was by boat. Several of the area's reservoirs were overflowing.
After about two weeks the rains stopped, but the rainmaker continued his work and the rains returned. Within a week, the Lower Otay Dam failed, and a 40 foot high flood of water raced towards the ocean, destroying everything in its path.
In this video we visit Lake Morena, where the rainmaker did his work, and the Lower Otay Reservoir, where the dam failed, causing the worst disaster in San Diego's history.
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In 1915, in order to fill the Morena Reservoir as quickly as possible, the City of San Diego hired a rainmaker named Charles Hatfield to put an end to a years long drought. The rains that would come, whether brought on by the rainmaker or not, led to the worst disaster in the city's history.
The Rainmaker began his work at Lake Morena in early 1916, and shortly thereafter it rained in Southern California for almost two weeks straight. In San Diego roads and bridges were destroyed, rivers flooded, and the telephone was taken out. The only way to reach the city was by boat. Several of the area's reservoirs were overflowing.
After about two weeks the rains stopped, but the rainmaker continued his work and the rains returned. Within a week, the Lower Otay Dam failed, and a 40 foot high flood of water raced towards the ocean, destroying everything in its path.
In this video we visit Lake Morena, where the rainmaker did his work, and the Lower Otay Reservoir, where the dam failed, causing the worst disaster in San Diego's history.
○ Gear we use: amazon.com/shop/sidetrackadventures
►Join us on Patreon: patreon.com/SidetrackAdventures
►Please subscribe for weekly updates showcasing some of our adventures: youtube.com/channel/UCdueDRFYPVgzPAAOM_bxVWA?sub_confirmation=1
►Also please follow Sidetrack Adventures on Instagram: instagram.com/sidetrackadventures
►Music in this video is from Epidemic Sounds; use our link for a free trial: share.epidemicsound.com/v927fj
