October 15, 1954. Thirteen-year-old Torontonian Elizabeth is a typical grade 8 girl, with a crush on a boy in her class and a baby-sitting job. Every day, she walks Suzie and her older brother David home after school, and then stays there until their mother gets home. On this particular evening, Hurricane Hazel roars down on Toronto, bringing torrential rains and flooding - and David and Suzie's house is on a street that will be practically wiped out.