Months of planning and preparation for the excursion and picnic led up to the Eastland Disaster, but the tragedy itself was over in a matter of minutes. However, the rescue and recovery efforts following the tragedy went on for days, even weeks.
The Western Electric Company and the American Red Cross each responded in an admirable fashion to the Disaster to ease the pain, suffering, and hardship of the victims’ families. Countless organizations and thousands of individuals responded in one or more ways, but it is impossible to identify all who helped in the rescue and recovery.
Sadly, the aftermath of the Eastland Disaster was slightly about rescue and survival – it was mostly consumed with recovery.
