Cline successfully predicted, two weeks in advance, the major stages of the Great Flood of 1927. Although Cline was issuing the forecasts, newspapers were refusing to print the forecasts due to pressure by a local censorship committee afraid of the impact the bad publicity would have on New Orleans commerce. Cline threatened the committee and the warnings were prominently posted. As a result Secretary Hoover praised Cline's work: "Too much credit cannot be given Dr. Cline for the work he has done. His flood forecasts have been absolutely uncanny in their accuracy, he has without a doubt saved the lives of thousands of people with these bulletins."