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I read this a year ago, but in light of NOLA I thought I'd put up a review. This was a fascinating book about the hurricane that hit Galveston Texas at the turn of the century. The storm nearly wiped out the city and killed 8000 people. The book tells survivor stories as well as what was goin on in the background with the NWS. The NWS had predicted the storm would hit NJ and told the fisherman there to get their boats in......they were a little off. 
There were warnings from Cuba that the storm was coming through the Gulf, but because of the red tape with the newly formed NWS the system failed. There were also all types of public health issues after the storm. The city never really returned to it's full glory - of course, the author makes clear that this was due to the port opening in Houston and the oil industry. So .....the book has it all. Hurricane, flooding, disaster, red tape and oil. An interesting read in light of current events.
There were warnings from Cuba that the storm was coming through the Gulf, but because of the red tape with the newly formed NWS the system failed. There were also all types of public health issues after the storm. The city never really returned to it's full glory - of course, the author makes clear that this was due to the port opening in Houston and the oil industry. So .....the book has it all. Hurricane, flooding, disaster, red tape and oil. An interesting read in light of current events.