1893 Sea Island Hurricane: Leadership, planning and wisdom

In 2008, I was in Iowa working on an epic flood. Most of the counties were declared federal disasters. This was a hard flood that included tornadoes. Parkersburg, IA was struck by a violent tornado during the flood. One evening in my hotel room, I was researching some late 19^th century disasters for my work. I ran across an article about an East Coast Governor asking the American Red Cross for help. Not only did he ask for help, he showed leadership doing it. I sent an email to myself so I would remember to come back and research this story. Years later, I did finish researching this amazing story.

The August 1893 Sea Island Hurricane was one of the deadliest hurricanes in American History killing an estimated two thousand and leaving thirty thousand homeless. By all accounts the devastation was complete. Benjamin Ryan Tillman was the Governor of South Carolina when the storm struck. The Governor quickly realized the response and recovery needed more coordination. He needed experienced help.

In September 1893, Governor Tillman and his staff met with Clara Barton and her Red Cross team at a hotel in Charleston, SC. Prior to the meeting, the American Red Cross had already assessed the stricken area. She did some reconnaissance like any good soldier or corporate executive would do. Clara Barton went into the meeting knowing more about the storm impact and the needs than the State did.

NOTE – If you’re asking FEMA or the State for help, you need to know more about what happened to your community than they do. Pull your impact data together and analyze. As Art Jones use to say in the 1990s, “document, document, document.” Don’t walk into a meeting knowing less than the other parties. Tell your story with facts.

Governor Tillman and Clara Barton agreed the American Red Cross would take over the response and recover operations. She asked the Governor to leave his management structure in place until the American Red Cross management structure was brought online. They did a joint news release stating the American Red Cross would assume responsibility for the response and recovery operations. 

I have always believed this action by the Governor made him look wise and secure. Clara Barton was smart. Her diplomatic skills were masterful. She helped the people of South Carolina and the Governor.  

Note – Recovery management structures change and evolve over the life of the disaster. 

In a message to the South Carolina General Assembly in November 1893, Governor Tillman suspended tax collection in the devastated area. The Governor had a heart, as well as being wise.

The American Red Cross was founded in 1881. By the time the 1893 struck, the American Red Cross had amassed just over a decade of experience. That experience was brought to bear on the Sea Island Hurricane. Seven years later all their experience would be needed in response to the 1900 Galveston Hurricane. Clara was 79 years old when she arrived in Galveston. She and her team did amazing recovery work. 

Sources: Newspaper.com, Beaufort County Library Records, NOAA, American Red Cross, and the New Georgia Encyclopedia   

Tom M.