WORLD HISTORY : ISAAC'S STORM
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Vilhelm Bjerknes:
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William Morris Davis :
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Isaac's Storm
About The Programme
September 8th, 1900 started as a typically hot and humid late-summer day in the prosperous seaside city of Galveston, Texas. Women tended to the everyday chores of homemaking while keeping an eye on their children. Men travelled on foot or horse- drawn carriage downtown to work in banks, law offices, shops and warehouses.
Among those men was Isaac Cline, head of the National Weather Bureau's Galveston office, the man in charge of keeping the town informed of the ever-changing weather patterns of their gulf-side locale.
Cline, trained in the relatively new science of climatology as well as medicine, was a trusted member of society and commanded respect for his scholarly treatises on weather phenomena.
Galveston, Cline believed, was safe from any sort of dangerous hurricane-force weather because of its unique topography and relation to the sea that lapped upon its shores. In 1891, he had even published an article in the Galveston News stating just that - and going so far as to write that anyone who believed that Galveston could be seriously harmed by a hurricane was a victim of "an absurd delusion."
But by early afternoon on that fateful Saturday, September 8th, the "absurd delusion" had become a terrifying reality. By the time Cline had realised the severity of the storm and how wrong his beliefs had been, it was too late.
Galvestonians were trapped on the island with no means of escape from the punishing weather. A Category 4 hurricane slammed into the city with 140 mile-an-hour winds fuelling the ocean swells that destroyed all structures within its path. Men, women and children, including Cline's own family, were tossed into the churning waters to fight for their lives.
Morning light revealed death and destruction on an epic scale: the storm had levelled three-quarters of the city and killed over 6,000 people.
Yet its horrific history had nearly faded into obscurity when author Erik Larson wrote about it in his best-selling book, Isaac's Storm. In this television presentation based on Larson's compelling account, Larson, along with weather experts, historians, and descendents of those lucky enough to have survived the violent storm, guide us through the events of that horrific day.
They detail the stories of heartbreaking loss, selfless heroism and the tragic folly of one man's faith in science that resulted in the most lethal storm in American history.
Isaac Cline
Isaac Monroe Cline was born in 1864 in Monroe County Tennessee. Although he entertained the idea of becoming a preacher and a lawyer, he accepted an opportunity to join the US weather service when he was recommended for the position by the President of Hiwassee College.
When Cline entered the Weather Service, it was ridiculed for its inability to forecast the weather. The Signal Corps track record for predicting storms was very poor.
Forecasting techniques were so primitive that the service was hesitant to allow junior members to forecast for fear that they would get it wrong. Cline was promoted in 1885 to take over the weather station in Fort Concho, Texas.
In 1889 he transferred to Galveston, Texas where he was the head meteorologist during the great storm of 1900 that devastated the city. But Cline failed to predict the hurricane. It was a personal tragedy as well as a professional disaster for the meteorologist.
In the Monthly Weather Review, Cline wrote: “Among the lost was my wife, who never rose above the water after the wreck of the building.”
While some may criticise his tropical storm forecast that fateful week, Cline was recognised as one of the top flood forecasters of his time and a pioneer in weather forecasting.
Even today, Cline is remembered by the US National Weather Service (NWS) by bestowing an annual award honouring his name for "operational excellence of line employees in the delivery of products and services supporting and enhancing the achievement of NWS strategic and operating plans."
The Work Of Weather Experts
The work of weather experts has always been under scrutiny. Prior to the Galveston disaster, they were generally viewed alongside astrologers and psychics as unreliable. However, risk assessment has become vital to protect lives and property. Weather experts are an integral part of this. The effects of global warming mean it is vital that money and research are devoted to the weather.
However, the most interesting (and potentially damaging) fallout of such a technology might be less about the global environment, and more about politics. It is possible that a country with advanced prediction capabilities could alter the path of a storm threatening their coast, causing it to ravage another country.
The contemporary work of weather experts is also connected to other organisations such as NASA. The next few decades will certainly bring technological advancements in these areas.
What Causes A Hurricane?
A hurricane is a type of cyclone, a low-pressure system that generally forms in the tropics, and is accompanied by thunderstorms. The ingredients for a hurricane always include pre-existing weather disturbances, such as moisture from tropical oceans and relatively light winds.
If the right conditions persist for long enough, they can combine to produce the violent winds, huge waves, torrential rains and floods we associate with the hurricane phenomenon.
Hurricane Disasters In History
As with all environmental disasters, hurricane researchers rely heavily on historical accounts for their data. Unfortunately, these records only go back a few hundred years. The United States has a history of hurricanes which have wreaked devastation. They occur every few years, so awareness is essential.
Following the aftermath of Isaac’s Storm, many of them have been fully documented with the details on record. Modern-day cities in susceptible areas, such as Florida, have systems in place to support them in case of emergency. From the mid-20th century, organisations have provided structural and financial support in the wake of the storm.
Human And Financial Damage
The Galveston hurricane was the deadliest weather disaster in the history of the United States. Storm tides of 8 to 15 feet inundated the whole of Galveston Island, as well as other portions of the nearby Texas coast.
These tides were largely responsible for the 8,000 deaths (estimates range from 6,000 to 12,000) attributed to the storm. The damage to property was estimated at $30 million.
The next year, the Atlantic-Gulf hurricane caused approximately 900 deaths and $22 million worth of damage. Raised awareness of the potential devastation has meant that no storm since has resulted in the same extent of damage. The New England Hurricane in 1938, was the next most destructive, causing 600 deaths.