People all over the nation, even the world, responded with donations of clothing, food, and shelter. Doctors, nurses and Clara Barton and the American Red Cross arrived to provide medical assistance and emergency shelter and supplies. The Johnstown Flood was the first major disaster served by the recently formed Red Cross. Doctors worried especially about diseases that might breed in the unclean water and decaying bodies of humans and animals.
Undertakers volunteered for the gruesome task of preparing over 2,000 bodies for burial. 700 of the victims could not be identified. They were buried together in a new cemetery built high above the town. Recovering the bodies took weeks and cleaning up debris took months. Five thousand homes had been destroyed, so many families lived in tents. During recovery and relief efforts the state of Pennsylvania put Johnstown under martial (military) law, since many of the towns leaders had perished in the flood. General Hastings took charge for several months, making sure relief supplies went to survivors who needed them and keeping the press from taking over the town.
The formal document, issued by the grand jury, which authorizes the government to proceed to trial against the defendant is called the indictment. It is an accusation that is formal and written officially for a person that has committed a serious crime.
