The Untold Story Behind a Costly Mistake that Led to America’s Deadliest Natural Disaster in History

The Galveston Hurricane and the costly mistake that contributed to its devastation

A young boy sits on debris in the wake of the deadliest natural disaster in American history. Zahner/Library of Congress

“The whole story will never be told, because it cannot be told.” This was the dispatch sent to the Associated Press office in Chicago from the manager of the Galveston News on Sept. 12, 1900, four days after a catastrophic hurricane dealt death, desolation, and destruction to the thriving sand-barrier island located about 2 miles off the Texas coast. Known as “The Great Galveston Hurricane” or the “Great Storm of 1900,” it has gone down in history as the deadliest natural disaster in the United States.

“A summary of the conditions prevailing at Galveston is more than human intellect can master,” wrote the local news manager, R.G. Lowe. “Briefly stated, the damage to property is anywhere between $15,000,000 and $20,000,000. The loss of life cannot be computed. The help must be immediate.”

Forecasting the Storm

Meteorologist Isaac Cline and his young family moved to Galveston in March 1889, where his assignment with the U.S. Weather Service was to establish a new weather station and organize the Texas Section. Cline wasn’t a novice; he had already established a respectable reputation as a great weatherman in various parts of the country, including Abilene, Texas, where he met and married his wife Cora May Ballew in 1887. They met in the Baptist church where she was the organist and niece of the pastor. The community welcomed Cline and his family, which grew to include three daughters and his brother Joseph. They were members of the First Baptist Church, and Cline taught Sunday School.