On May 31, 1889, heavy rains brought the Little Conemaugh River in Pennsylvania to bank full. The force of the river blasted through the South Fork Dam and funneled a wall of water 40 feet high at 22 feet per second into Johnstown, killing 2,100 people, leveling trees, houses and buildings in its path. This is often recognized and referred to as the famous Johnstown Flood. An idea that could be embraced by South Louisiana is currently in place with benefits for years to come. Venice, Italy, is referred to as the world's most serene city. Because of flooding, ancient buildings are dissolving and in 2003 engineers and public officials launched "Project Moses." The plan recognized three inlets to the lagoon that surround Venice that caused extensive flooding. Experts fitted each tributary with sixty foot, hollow steel gates. The gates lie flat on the sea floor and when high tide threatens, the gates will rise on hinges and block the flood.