In this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, we visit the story of a disaster in a seaside town that got locals wondering about government conspiracies, weather control, and if human beings could actually, truly for real, make it rain.

Our podcast is an audio guide to the world’s wondrous, awe-inspiring, strange places. In under 15 minutes, we’ll take you to an incredible site, and along the way you’ll meet some fascinating people and hear their stories. Join us daily, Monday through Thursday, to explore a new wonder with cofounder Dylan Thuras and a neighborhood of Atlas Obscura reporters.