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In Patricia Bellis Bixel’s “It Must Be Made Safe” she gives a good insight into the aftermath and rebuilding of Galveston after the storm of 1900. In the wake of the storm leaders of the city had thought that Galveston’s future was all but over, considering the city was on an island, in a path that storms could come through like they did just months before and ruin the city again after rebuilding. They had worried there would be no investment into the city after the storm and did their best to try and reinforce the city and prevent another catastrophe. Many plans of protecting the city had been submitted to the state legislature for funding but they weren’t persuaded enough that these plans would save the city from another storm. Finally with the help of some engineers, one named James B. Eads, they got a plan together that could help limit flooding and destruction, a group was assembled called the Deep Water Committee to see if the deepening of the Galveston channel would help save Galveston in future storms. Although it didn’t go as planned and backing from legislature did not come through, it was the first attempt at finding a solution towards saving Galveston from floods and bringing in investors to spend money on rebuilding a safe city. Finally with the help of civil engineers and U.S. Army Corps engineers, and the selling of bonds to fund some of the proposed seawall, financing was secured. We have multiple sources saying that a seawall was an early idea in trying to protect the city. It is even talked about in other books like Isaac’s Storm by Erik Larson, JUSTINROD717 had posted that ” Soon the town was being rebuilt, along with added defenses against future storms including a seawall and the rising of Galveston itself up a predetermined amount of feet.” As well as a seawall, a grade raising of the city’s height above sea level was implemented.

Bixel’s account of the plans that failed and then the plans that were finally agreed upon is an interesting way of showing us the process towards Galveston’s revival as a potentially booming city. Her use of Engineering records and personal accounts gives a good and convincing background to her story. Overall this was a good piece on the aftermath and revival of the Storm that wrecked such a up and coming town and had trouble regaining the financial interest it once had.