Galveston is built on an island 27 miles long and three miles wide. In 1900, the highest point above sea level on the island was eight feet. Most of the island was only two or three feet higher than high tide. By the end of the nineteenth century, Galveston was a real boom town with a population of nearly 37,000 people, making it one of the biggest cities in Texas.
City leaders were interested in bringing more business and money to the island. When inhabitants asked them to build a sea wall along the east side of the island to protect it from storms, they replied there was nothing to worry about and concentrated on making the burgeoning city more attractive with boardwalks and paved streets. The city of Galveston had not been hit by a hurricane for many decades, and they figured one would be unlikely to hit them in the future.
The Approaching Storm
The storm that hit Galveston started as a “tropical wave” off the east coast of Africa. A tropical wave is a giant low-pressure system that generates storms and gathers strength over time. The first sighting of the storm was on August 27, about 1,000 miles away from Galveston near the Windward Islands off the coast of South America. It was simply described as an area of “unsettled weather.” How quickly things can change!
The storm was headed on a slightly curving path right for the booming city of Galveston. On September 4, the Weather Bureau in Washington DC began telegraphing messages of the impending storm to the Weather Bureau in Galveston. However, those in Galveston chose to ignore the warnings. By their calculations, the hurricane would turn north and make landfall in Florida. The weather service in Cuba, one of the most scientific weather stations in the world at the time, vehemently disagreed with them.
On September 5, the storm passed through the Straits of Florida and entered the Gulf of Mexico. Weather watchers observed a strange persistent halo around the moon, and the sky turned a deep red. This led many to believe the storm was intensifying. The warm water of the Gulf was energizing it.
On the morning of September 8, most of the residents of Galveston didn’t see any cause for alarm. The swells were a bit bigger. The skies were partly cloudy. Most of the people continued on with their daily business.
Tragedy
The storm made landfall at about 8 p.m. on September 8. The eye of the tornado passed just south of Galveston. Folks at the Weather Bureau measured wind speeds of 100 miles per hour before the anemometer was blown away. Torrential rains were falling, blown sidewise by the wind.
But it wasn’t the wind or rain that directly caused the tragic loss of life in Galveston. It was the storm surge that swept over the island. A storm surge is a wall of water that is pushed along by high winds. A storm surge 17 feet tall slammed into the island. It swept away homes, businesses, churches, and schools where people had taken refuge. When the hurricane was over, 8,000 to 9,000 people had perished, making the Galveston Storm of 1900 the deadliest natural disaster to ever take place in the history of the United States.
Two things might have prevented this tragedy. First, the local government might have listened to the voice of its citizens and built a sea wall. Second, the local Weather Bureau might have heeded the warnings about the upcoming storm and issued a hurricane warning giving the people of Galveston time to evacuate to the mainland. They were too wise in their own eyes and failed to see the path the hurricane was making.
Preventable
The loss of so many people was preventable. Do you know another dangerous situation where people are not paying attention to the warnings being sent to them and also taking no steps to avoid it?
This situation could involve you. A great storm is developing over the waters of this world. It is gathering strength as it goes. Those who should know better are failing to give warning. People are so used to their prosperity that they are failing to take any preventative measures with regards to this approaching storm.
The storm that is developing is God’s wrath against sin. Sometimes when the word “wrath” is used in the Bible, it refers to human anger which is often misplaced and carried to extremes. But God’s wrath refers to His condemnation and punishment of sin. God’s wrath refers to His unalterable opposition to evil.
It seems like people today are very comfortable in their sins. They are not concerned that their sins will bring them into judgment with God. It is as though they tell themselves that they have lived for 20, 40 ... 70 years and God’s wrath hasn’t fallen on them yet, therefore they have nothing to worry about. They prefer to pursue their prosperity and good times in this life and leave off all thought that God’s judgment will fall on sinners for all eternity. God calls them “children of wrath.” All of us, at one time or another, were “children of wrath,” and those who remain in their sins still are. “Among whom also we all had our [manner of life] in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others” (Ephesians 2:33Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (Ephesians 2:3)).
God calls all the impenitent and ungodly “children of wrath” because it is only a matter of time before they come into judgment for their sins. This judgment, like a giant storm surge, will carry them away to a lost eternity in hell. But it is preventable. The Lord Jesus gave His life on the cross so all mankind may look to Him and be saved. “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 45:2222Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22)).
Because He made Himself an offering for sin, all men may look to Him and be saved. “Surely He [has] borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:4-64Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:4‑6)).
There is one way to pass from being a “child of wrath” to a “child of God.” It is by faith in the Lord Jesus. People can flee from the wrath to come by repenting of their sins and believing in the Lord Jesus.
The morning of September 8, 1900, began like many others, but before the evening was done, over 8,000 people would die. One day — it might just begin like any other day — will be the day that the storm surge of God’s judgment carries you away to everlasting punishment. The time is certainly coming for every sinner who obstinately remains in their sins. When will it strike? God only knows the day and the hour. The only wise course is to repent right now before another moment goes by. If you wait until tomorrow, it may be forever too late.
Many of the deaths in the Galveston Storm might have been prevented. No one has to perish because of their sins. All may come to repentance and faith in Christ. Will you listen to the warnings and come to the Savior?
Another great storm and great lesson can be found by reading The Atocha.