What began as the National Weather Bureau in 1870, the National Weather Service has become an integral organization to the safety of Texas residents during natural disasters. The Texas branch of the Weather Bureau was first established in Galveston in 1889, spearheaded by meteorologist Isaac Cline. While Cline initially doubted the potential threat hurricanes posed to the Texas coast, it was he who issued a hurricane warning without Bureau approval during the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900, saving thousands of lives in the process. Effective weather forecasting has since led to the successful evacuation of Texas residents, as seen during Hurricane Carla in 1961. The National Weather Service has participated in several educational initiatives, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association radio, to better prepare the public when disaster strikes.