Deadliest Hurricane in US History
The Galveston Texas Hurricane of 1900
Despite Hurricane Katrina being the costliest hurricane in American history, the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 had the highest death toll ever recorded in the USA.
Details of the 1900 Galveston Hurricane
This Category 4 hurricane made landfall in Galveston on September 8, 1900 after crossing the Gulf of Mexico from Cuba where it was recorded as a tropical storm. As weather patterns indicate, a storm will intensify as it picks up the warm gulf waters so this storm reached hurricane status after leaving Cuba.
According to CNN, the estimated death toll of the Galveston Hurricane was 8,000 to 12,000 people. The storm leveled 12 city blocks which was approximately three-quarters of the island where Galveston is located. Because of its island location, extensive flooding occurred as water poured in from all directions.
Located on the Gulf of Mexico, Galveston was the largest trade center and biggest city in Texas at the end of the 19th century. The population was 42,000 residents and was rapidly growing as the port facilities attracted new businesses to the island. Galveston was extremely vulnerable because it was a low-lying flat island on the Gulf Coast. It was approximately 9 feet above sea level. There was no seawall to protect the city and sand dunes on the shore were excavated in order to provide landfill in lower areas of the city.
Category 4 Hurricane Details
Wind Speed: 131- 155 mph or 210 – 249 kph
Storm Surge: 13 – 18 feet or 4.0 – 5.5 meters
A Category 4 hurricane is capable of completely destroying houses and mobile homes and businesses with overhanging rooftops or canopies. It can cause erosion of beach areas plus widespread flooding extending to inland areas.
Effects of the 1900 Hurricane on Galveston
With a storm surge of about 15 feet, Galveston was under water. With the force of the wind and water, buildings were flattened with people trapped in the debris or drowned due to not being able to find higher ground. Approximately 3600 buildings were wiped out. All bridges connecting to the mainland were destroyed.
On Sept 7th, the storm had caused extensive damage to the Mississippi and Louisiana coast but due to the telegraph system being wiped out, there were no details of the storm passed on to Texas. The Weather Service in Washington DC was informed of a storm but believed the path was over Florida and heading eastward out to the Atlantic Ocean again.
Without the sophisticated tracking systems we have today, there was very little warning given to Galveston. There were reports of severe storm damage from the crew of ships traveling from the eastern gulf as they pulled into the Galveston Harbor. By then, it was too late to evacuate.
Rebuilding of Galveston Texas
In 1902, construction of a 17-foot high seawall began and it extended for 3 miles. The ground of Galveston was also raised by 17 feet through the use of dredged sand. Buildings that survived the storm were raised which was a great engineering feat. This also entailed the raising of utility lines and rebuilding roads.
Fifteen years later, another hurricane hit Galveston and the seawall plus the elevated land withstood destruction. Today, the seawall extends for 10 miles and is a popular tourist attraction.
After the 1900 hurricane, business and commerce shifted north to Houston where there was an oil boom. The Houston Ship Channel was dredged in 1909 and 1914 which enabled the operation of a large seaport. Although it never regained its status as a major commercial center, Galveston is a major cruise ship port and a popular tourist attraction.
PBS website has pictures of the 1900 Galveston Hurricane
