Galveston, Texas

The scene of the hurricane and location of the major events in the novel. Galveston's location is important to the storm due to its unique geographic setting. In essence, Galveston's geographic features contribute as much to the destruction during the hurricane as the storm itself.

The Levy Building

Where Joseph and Isaac work in Galveston, the Levy building is farther inland than the Cline home. If Isaac had taken his family here during the storm, they might have been more protected.

Barometer

The barometers throughout the novel play an important role in weather tracking. Each of them records atmospheric pressure, but they are also the best warning signals that a catastrophic weather event is about to occur. In the middle of the hurricane, John Blagden records the then-lowest barometric pressure to date.

The Belen Observatory

Cubans have been studying and researching hurricane phenomena for much longer...