Amazingly, I just started re-reading "Isaac's Storm" last week...

Richardo

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Sep-11-08 10:40 PM
Original message

Amazingly, I just started re-reading "Isaac's Storm" last week...

Edited on Thu Sep-11-08 10:44 PM by Richardo

...and now 108 years later, almost to the day, we're getting another hurricane coming ashore at Galveston.

For those of you who haven't read it, I recommend it highly. Many people outside of Texas don't know that the 1900 hurricane killed an estimated 8,000 people and is still the worst natural disaster in US history. Erik Larson writes a compelling history.

Refresh | 0 Recommendations

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

villager

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Sep-11-08 10:42 PM
Response to Original message

1. On the fiction side, there's Joe Lansdale's "The Big Blow:"

http://www.amazon.com/Big-Blow-Joe-R-Lansdale/dp/1892284987

But yes, it remains one of the more obscure major natural disasters in U.S. history...

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Richardo

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Sep-11-08 10:46 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. Cool - that's a new one on me.

:thumbsup: Thanks!

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

saltpoint

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Sep-11-08 10:53 PM
Response to Original message

3. Richardo, I agree. It is a terrific read. And you are

exactly right -- Ike is aping that 1900 storm.

Even Ike's track is eerily the same. Note also Larson's research on the earthquake nearabouts the hurricane -- just as we've had earthquakes in Indonesian and Japan this week...

I hope many DUers will give Larson's book a try.

Great post.

Recommended.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Sabriel

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Sep-12-08 01:22 PM
Response to Original message

4. It's a horrifying story

I had nightmares after reading it. At several points, I had to put it down and couldn't go on.

Highly recommended.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Captain Hilts

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Sep-13-08 07:48 AM
Response to Original message

5. That one, the '33 that hit the FL Keys, Camille and the Hurricane of '38

were the biggies.

In '33, all those CCC/WPA workers swelled the Keys' population and couldn't get out.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

saltpoint

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Sep-13-08 08:23 AM
Response to Original message

6. Kick.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Captain Hilts

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Sep-14-08 03:26 PM
Response to Original message

7. And, again, this Mookie fan LOVES your avatar. nt

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Richardo

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Sep-16-08 12:01 AM
Response to Reply #7

8. Thanks Mookie...

BTW, on Friday evening I saw the 'brick red sunset' that Larsen describes as the harbinger of a hurricane. Chilling.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Sequoia

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Sep-19-08 12:00 PM
Response to Original message

9. One of the best and scariest I've read.

That huge wall of debri creeping and crushing everything in its path was horrifying. People choping up their floors with axes. Issac finding his wife in the much with her hand sticking out and him seeing the wedding band.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Richardo

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Sep-19-08 02:58 PM
Response to Reply #9

10. And then to see that it is her wedding band on his finger in the cover photo.

Wow.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

Sequoia

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Sep-19-08 03:52 PM
Response to Reply #10

11. I didn't even notice that.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)

Wed May 01st 2024, 09:37 AM
Response to Original message

Advertisements [?]

Top

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.