c) The Great Plains

The Great Plains region of the United States was primarily affected by the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, a severe environmental disaster. This period of intense dust storms caused widespread agricultural damage, exacerbating the economic hardships of the Great Depression. Poor agricultural practices and prolonged drought conditions led to soil erosion and the loss of arable land, resulting in massive displacement of farming communities. The Dust Bowl is remembered as one of the worst ecological disasters in American history, leading to significant changes in farming practices and federal soil conservation policies.