A Town Is Drowning

"A Town Is Drowning" by Frederik Pohl is a science fiction story set during a massive flood in a northeastern U.S. town that shows how people act when disaster strikes. The book starts with Mickey Groff, a businessman driving to Hebertown, annoyed by the heavy rain because it is making him late for a meeting. His bad mood grows when he wonders if his business will survive. As the storm gets worse, Groff crashes his car and has to ask Sam Zehedi, a local store owner, for help. At the same time, Mrs. Goudeket, who owns a resort, struggles to manage her guests as the storm rages on. The story sets up these different characters and their situations just before the flood really hits the town, showing how they get ready to deal with the coming crisis.