On October 25, 2011, a devastating combination of heavy rainfall and seismic landslides hit over 10 towns between lower Liguria and Northern Tuscany (see TF 152). Among those affected the most were the seaside villages of Monterosso and Vernazza, which received more than 20 inches of rain in under four hours, about one-third of the average total annual rainfall. The catastrophic weather claimed four lives and caused destruction worse than any other disaster, including World War II. Few in these towns believed they could recover from the damage done that day. Six months later, spring has brought new life. With help from American expats living in Tuscany and Liguria, the towns are quickly bouncing back to their original beauty.
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