We are told that the summer of 1918 was "blighted". How do the events of that summer foreshadow doodles death?

Among other things the crops withered and dried up because there was no rain and the sun beat down on them. There were two tornadoes, both in the same location, one "going" and one "coming." Then, the cotton bolls were ripped from the plants, the corn was leaned badly to one side, and trees were down so that Daddy cursed the weather and the Republican Party.

ah man i wish it was still 2016 ;(