In 1931, severe drought hit the Midwestern and Southern Plains. That nearly 500 miles of farmland would not become golden with wheat until eight years later. Watch "Surviving the Dust Bowl" tonight at 10/9c on PBS or stream it on PBS online the PBS Video app. to.pbs.org/3PQAfyU | American Experience | PBS

In 1931 the rains stopped and the “black blizzards” began. Powerful dust storms blew across the Southern Plains, taking with it the topsoil that had taken a thousand years per inch to build. Tune in to SURVIVING THE DUST BOWL on Jan. 29, only on PBS (check your local listings). | American Experience | PBS