The Storm of the Century

I have to tell you that Al Roker's new non-fiction book, The Storm of the Century (#520) about the 1900 hurricane that devastated Galveston, Texas, is not the most comforting reading when you are sitting in the cone of probability for a hurricane sweeping towards you across the Caribbean, and watching the news coverage of the ten year anniversary for Hurricane Katrina!  It is a fascinating read, though.

I was not aware of the Galveston hurricane until I actually visited that city a number of years ago for a conference.  We did see some displays about the disaster around town, but sitting across the street from the calm Gulf waters, watching the dolphins frolic just offshore, and our waiter dancing the Macarena on a nearby table, it was as hard for us to imagine deadly peril coming from that direction as it was for the Galvestonians living in their progressive, bustling city in 1900.  The head of the US Weather Bureau, and their local well-respected meteorologist Isaac Cline told the citizens of this Texas town that a hurricane strike on Galveston was impossible.  Professional hubris played a large role in the tragedy that ensued.  No evacuations took place because it couldn't happen there.  As a result, 10,000 or more people died, but no one can actually say for sure what the toll was on lives or property.

Mr. Roker makes the tales of those who witnessed the force of this hurricane personal and anecdotal.  The accounts of the survivors, and of those first on the scene afterwards are so horrific it seems a miracle anyone or anything in Galveston made it through that storm.  Those who did not only survived, but they reclaimed their city in a way that seems almost miraculous today.  Reading this account, it made me wonder if the collective will would exist in America today to achieve what the people of Galveston did in the aftermath with the backing of the entire United States.  I would like to think so, but...

I would highly recommend this account of a natural disaster that is probably unknown to most Americans today.  My only quibble, and it may very well be because I had a pre-publication copy, was the lack of photographs, which I think would have substantially enhanced the narrative.  Once the book is published in September, I will make it my business to find a copy and see if maps and photos are included. In the meantime, kudos, Mr. Roker.