Larson, Erik. Isaac’s Storm: A Man A Time, and The Deadliest Hurricane in History. New York: Crown Publishers, 1999.
Larson’s Isaac’s Storm: A Man A Time, and The Deadliest Hurricane in History perfectly depicts two main things throughout its story. It depicts the arrogance of that generation spurring from the excitement about, and confidence in their new technologies , inventions and break throughs, and the severity of the consequences that could follow if you weren’t humble. It is the story of an overconfident meteorologist named Isaac Cline, and his experience of the devastating hurricane that struck Galveston Texas, in 1900 leaving more than 6,000 people dead in it’s destruction. This hurricane occurs after Cline stated that a hurricane …show more content…
He was typically a light sleeper, so this was concerning for him. It was a record hot summer and ended up warming the temperature of the Gulf of Mexico something similar to bath water. But suddenly the air had cooled, and he could feel the waves crashing against the stilts that held his home up and he began to grow concerned. Joseph awoke with the same feeling and said he had recorded a few changes in the weather, but nothing great enough to cause concern. Throughout the book Larson provides information about what causes these storms, weather conditions prefacing these storms (not to mention during) and just overall a very insightful look into attributes to these disasters. After a few days Cline gets alerted by the Bureau central office in Washington that a tropical storm hit Cuba, and the bureaus men in Cuba said it was nothing to worry about, but experienced Cuba begged to differ. Willis Moore chief of the bureau reminded them they are not to listen to them. Friday, he received word again from Willis that a tropical storm was in the gulf just south of Louisiana and to expect “high northerly winds tonight and Saturday with probably heavy rain” . Joseph thought they should notify Washington of what their were experiencing but Cline refused. The next morning was cooler and calm, nothing significant …show more content…
Ending with details of a storm that hit Indianola (only 3 hours from Galveston) that killed 176 people. Which spurred Galveston residents into researching and it was determined (at least by looking at a map) that they were more susceptible than Indianola to destruction by natural water disaster. After that revelation 30 prominent Galveston residents collectively came together as the Progressive Association, and proposed a seawall be built. The state even authorized a bond for it, but since it had been a few months, attitudes toward it changed and no wall was built. It is also reiterated that any people whom were still uncomfortable about not having a wall, were eased by Clines announcement about the impossibility of a hurricane. Larson is highlighting how many chances this situation had to be turned around.
Next, the storm entered the Caribbean Sea the morning of August 31. To make a greater connection to the disaster Larson details the life of Louisa Rollfing and her husband August, both immigrants from Germany although August came to America at 1 years old, and Louisa further down the line as a young woman. August just paid off their piano and that brought a sense of permanency for them, as they moved around Galveston
Larson’s Isaac’s Storm: A Man A Time, and The Deadliest Hurricane in History perfectly depicts two main things throughout its story. It depicts the arrogance of that generation spurring from the excitement about, and confidence in their new technologies , inventions and break throughs, and the severity of the consequences that could follow if you weren’t humble. It is the story of an overconfident meteorologist named Isaac Cline, and his experience of the devastating hurricane that struck Galveston Texas, in 1900 leaving more than 6,000 people dead in it’s destruction. This hurricane occurs after Cline stated that a hurricane …show more content…
He was typically a light sleeper, so this was concerning for him. It was a record hot summer and ended up warming the temperature of the Gulf of Mexico something similar to bath water. But suddenly the air had cooled, and he could feel the waves crashing against the stilts that held his home up and he began to grow concerned. Joseph awoke with the same feeling and said he had recorded a few changes in the weather, but nothing great enough to cause concern. Throughout the book Larson provides information about what causes these storms, weather conditions prefacing these storms (not to mention during) and just overall a very insightful look into attributes to these disasters. After a few days Cline gets alerted by the Bureau central office in Washington that a tropical storm hit Cuba, and the bureaus men in Cuba said it was nothing to worry about, but experienced Cuba begged to differ. Willis Moore chief of the bureau reminded them they are not to listen to them. Friday, he received word again from Willis that a tropical storm was in the gulf just south of Louisiana and to expect “high northerly winds tonight and Saturday with probably heavy rain” . Joseph thought they should notify Washington of what their were experiencing but Cline refused. The next morning was cooler and calm, nothing significant …show more content…
Ending with details of a storm that hit Indianola (only 3 hours from Galveston) that killed 176 people. Which spurred Galveston residents into researching and it was determined (at least by looking at a map) that they were more susceptible than Indianola to destruction by natural water disaster. After that revelation 30 prominent Galveston residents collectively came together as the Progressive Association, and proposed a seawall be built. The state even authorized a bond for it, but since it had been a few months, attitudes toward it changed and no wall was built. It is also reiterated that any people whom were still uncomfortable about not having a wall, were eased by Clines announcement about the impossibility of a hurricane. Larson is highlighting how many chances this situation had to be turned around.
Next, the storm entered the Caribbean Sea the morning of August 31. To make a greater connection to the disaster Larson details the life of Louisa Rollfing and her husband August, both immigrants from Germany although August came to America at 1 years old, and Louisa further down the line as a young woman. August just paid off their piano and that brought a sense of permanency for them, as they moved around Galveston