America’s Deadliest Disaster

    But this was no ordinary storm. Galveston would soon face one of nature’s most formidable forces: a hurricane.

    Hurricanes form over oceans. Their winds can lift up trains. Trillions of gallons of rain can fall. Hurricanes have killed more people in America than any other natural disaster.

    In the days before the hurricane, weather experts knew a bad storm was heading toward the U.S. But they didn’t know where it would hit. Scientists at the time didn’t have tools to help them track storms. So most of the time, their predictions were wrong.

    That is why the people of Galveston were in so much danger. They didn’t know a hurricane was coming until it was too late.

    What nobody understood was that this was no ordinary storm. Galveston would soon face one of nature’s most formidable forces: a hurricane.

    Hurricanes form over oceans. They can drop trillions of gallons of rain, and their powerful winds can shatter buildings and lift trains off tracks. These massive, swirling storms have killed more people in America than any other type of natural disaster.

    In the days leading up to the Galveston hurricane, weather experts knew that a serious storm was heading toward the United States—but they didn’t know exactly where it would hit. Because scientists at the time didn’t have technology that would allow them to track storms, their predictions were usually inaccurate.

    Because the science of predicting the weather was so unreliable, the residents of Galveston were in terrible danger. They were simply unaware that a powerful and treacherous hurricane was barreling toward their beautiful city—until it was too late.

    As the hours passed, the storm got worse. Many buildings were destroyed. Harry’s house was the best-built in the area. His mother had invited in anyone who needed help.

    Around 7:30 p.m., the winds shifted. A 15-foot-high storm surge rushed in and turned the whole city into a raging sea. Houses, schools, and churches crumbled.

    By midnight, Harry’s home was the only one in his neighborhood still standing. It was full of neighbors. “The house was so full, and there was so much worry,” Harry wrote. “There were people praying on their knees.”

    As the hours passed, the storm increased in strength and destroyed hundreds of buildings. Harry’s house was the sturdiest in the neighborhood, so his mother had invited in anyone who needed help.

    Around 7:30 p.m., the winds shifted. A 15-foot-high storm surge rushed in from the Gulf of Mexico, turning the entire city into a raging sea. Houses, schools, and churches crumbled.

    By midnight, Harry’s home was the only one in his neighborhood that hadn’t been washed away. It was crowded with terrified neighbors.  “The house was so full, and there was so much worry,” Harry wrote. “There were people praying on their knees.”

    That’s when Harry went into the kitchen and heard the woman outside calling for help. “I decided to get some good swimmers and go out and rescue her,” Harry wrote.

    They followed the sound of the woman’s screaming voice. They finally found her standing on the roof of a house. Inside were 36 people, including 13 children and babies. 

    The house was floating in the water. The wind was ripping it to pieces. But over the next hour, Harry and his neighbors were able to lead everyone through the water to safety. His mother welcomed them all to their house with hot coffee and biscuits.

    By 1:30 a.m., there were 140 people at Harry’s house. There were dogs, cats, and birds too. People sat together crying, praying, and waiting for the storm to end.

    That’s when Harry heard the woman calling. “I decided to get some good swimmers and go out and rescue her,” Harry wrote.

    They followed the sound of the woman’s voice. She was on the roof of a house. Inside were 36 people. Many were kids and babies.

    The house was floating in the water. The wind was ripping it apart. Harry and his neighbors led everyone to Harry’s house. His mother gave them hot coffee and biscuits.

    By 1:30 a.m., there were 140 people at Harry’s house. They were crying and praying.

    That’s when Harry went into the kitchen and heard the woman outside calling for help. “I decided to get some good swimmers and go out and rescue her,” Harry wrote.

    They followed the woman’s voice and finally found her standing on the roof of a house. Inside were 36 people, including 13 children and babies.

    The house was floating in the water, and the wind was ripping it to pieces. But over the next hour, Harry and his neighbors managed to lead everyone through the water to safety. Harry’s mother welcomed them all to their house.

    By 1:30 a.m., there were 140 people—as well as dogs, cats, and birds—at Harry’s house. People sat together crying, praying, and waiting for the hurricane to end.

    “By Sunday morning, the sun was shining,” Harry wrote. “But the water was still 3 feet deep in the streets. What a wreck it left.”

    All across Galveston, there was nothing but ruin. At least 8,000 people had been killed. The Great Galveston Hurricane is the deadliest natural disaster that has happened in the U.S.

    It took more than a year to clear away all the wreckage. Bit by bit, the city was rebuilt. A wall was put up to protect Galveston from future storms. But the city was never the same. It is no longer the richest and most important city in Texas.  

    After the storm, Harry knew he was lucky to be alive. When he grew up, he became a business leader. He lived to be 82 years old. 

    Harry’s grandson Peter says that Harry had a happy life. All the same, he never forgot the hurricane. “He told his story every Thanksgiving,” says Peter.

    “By Sunday morning, the sun was shining,” Harry wrote. “But the water was still 3 feet deep in the streets. What a wreck it left.”

    Throughout Galveston, there was nothing but devastation. At least 8,000 people had perished. The Great Galveston Hurricane is the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history.

    It took more than a year for all the wreckage to be cleared away. The city was gradually rebuilt, and a huge wall was constructed to protect it from future storms—but it is no longer the richest and most important city in Texas.  

    Harry understood how fortunate he and his family had been to survive the hurricane. He grew up to be a business leader and lived to be 82. According to Harry’s grandson Peter, Harry enjoyed life but never forgot the 1900 hurricane. “He told his story every Thanksgiving,” Peter says.