1953 YEAR OF CATASTROPHE America's Southwest experienced the worst drought since the grim Dust Bowl era, and President Eisenhower met with governors of stricken states. The worst flood in centuries overran the Low Countries, inundating thousands of square miles. Earthquakes turned the Ionian Isles of Greece, into a scene of nightmare agony. In Japan, 129 soldiers died in the crash of a transport plane - the worst in aviation history. Tornadoes slashed across the United States wreaking untold destruction in one of the worst storm years on record.