[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 111 (Thursday, September 8, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H7791-H7792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      A WEEKEND IN SEPTEMBER 1900

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, the devastation of Hurricane Katrina is a vivid 
reminder to Texans of another hurricane that occurred 105 years ago, 
the weekend of September 8, 1900, in Galveston, Texas. That hurricane, 
known to many as ``the storm,'' was the deadliest natural disaster to 
take place in American history.
  In 1900, Galveston was the showplace of the Gulf of Mexico, referred 
to by many as the Jewel of Texas and the wealthiest city in the State 
of Texas. On that weekend in September, as 40,000 residents and 
vacationers were bidding farewell to summer, weather forecasters were 
watching closely an unnamed hurricane brewing in the Gulf of Mexico. 
Having very little of today's weather forecasting equipment, the 
trackers lost the location of the storm in the gulf after it passed the 
predicted landfall of Florida.
  It began as a tropical storm on August 27, 1900, and no one could 
imagine what it would become. Twelve days later, in the darkness of the 
night on September 8, 105 years ago today, it started to rain in 
Galveston and the water silently and quickly began to rise. It crept 
and covered the low-lying island. The island was barely above sea level 
at 5 to 9 feet. There was no time for any evacuation.
  The strong winds and rains ravaged the city. Houses were devastated 
and families were swept away. As the power and phones went out, people 
started wading through the murky mounting water. They sought shelter in 
downtown buildings and churches as the gale winds and incessant rain 
continued to increase.
  Nuns in the local orphanage tied a roped around the waists of the 
children and unsuccessfully tried to lead them to higher ground. Of the 
93 children and 10 Catholic nuns, only three boys survived.
  No one was prepared or adequately warned for this Category 4 
hurricane that hit the city of Galveston. The force of the 140-mile-an-
hour winds caused a water surge that covered most of the 3 mile by 30 
mile island in minutes.
  The nameless hurricane destroyed 3,500 buildings, over half of the 
city. The loss of life was staggering. It reminds me of the scripture 
of old, that the rains came down, the waters rose, and the winds blew 
and beat against the houses. But when the rains stopped and the wind 
blew no more, over 8,000 people had died. Hundreds more were never 
accounted for. Nearly everyone on the island knew a friend or relative 
who had perished.
  Isaac Cline, a Galveston forecaster, never believed that the 
hurricane could ravage this paradise island. After the calm came once 
more, Cline described the storm's aftermath as ``the most horrible 
sight that was ever witnessed by a civilized people.''
  When the hurricane finally moved inland, and it did not end its winds 
until it got to Canada, the task of recovery was overwhelming. 
Prisoners of the State penitentiary were used in the cleanup to find 
the dead, buried at sea, only to resurface on the beaches. Bodies were 
still being found in February of the next year. Since it was not 
possible to bury the thousands that died, they were eventually 
cremated.
  The story of Galveston's hurricane is a story of death and 
devastation and ultimate determination.

[[Page H7792]]

  The survivors in Galveston were committed to protect their city in 
the future. They dredged the ship channel and the island was literally 
raised 17 feet by the dredging. It would be an engineering marvel even 
today. A massive sea wall was built to protect the city from future 
hurricanes. The economic loss, property loss, and loss of life had a 
serious impact on the coastal city.
  Although the great storm in Galveston was extraordinary, those who 
survived and pitched in to help rebuild Galveston were just as 
extraordinary in their grit and character. Those brave Texans who 
survived faced the challenges head on, and eventually Galveston rose 
back from that murky mud.
  Galveston has come a long way since that weekend in 1900. It is once 
again a thriving community, rich in history, opportunity; and the 
citizens are as resilient as they were 105 years ago today. Galveston 
did lose, however, its title of ``wealthiest city'' to another place up 
the bayou called Houston.
  Today, as our Gulf Coast neighbors struggle to put their lives back 
together after the devastating blow they received from Hurricane 
Katrina, our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and families. 
The devastation caused by this hurricane affects the entire Nation, and 
we must come together to provide for our friends, our relatives and our 
neighbors in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama during this time.
  On the anniversary of the ``great storm,'' the Galveston storm, the 
people of southeast Texas are ready and showing their compassionate 
spirit to those devastated by Katrina. I commend them for their 
kindness in this time of need. Just as Galveston was rebuilt, we remain 
optimistic that this recent disaster will be overcome by collective 
efforts of all Americans. As Americans, we are all in this together, 
Mr. Speaker; and we need to be on the same page in the hymnal. That is 
just the way it is.

                          ____________________