Disaster struck Galveston, Texas on September 8, 1900. The devastating hurricane claimed thousands of lives, homes and businesses.
In the late 1800s, before the hurricanes, Galveston ranked as the Lone Star State’s largest city. Tourists flocked to this location for its historic sites and delightful beaches. The city also had a prosperous economy.
Little did the people of Galveston know the storm was coming until tragedy struck the Texas hotspot. At this point, the National Weather Service’s predecessor, the Weather Service, was only 10 years old. The tracking and communications the organization had were completely different from what we have today.
Below are details about the devastating 1900 Galveston Hurricane that shook Texas and ruined the lives of many.
The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 claimed thousands of lives and homes. (Photo by History/Universal Images Group, Getty Images)
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1. What happened during the Galveston Hurricane of 1900?
The Galveston Hurricane was a Category 4 storm. To this day, it remains the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history.
The hurricane’s storm surge reached more than 15 feet in height and had wind speeds of more than 145 miles per hour, according to Census.gov.
2. How many people died in the hurricane?
According to the National Hurricane Center, approximately 8,000 people died on Galveston Island during the Galveston Hurricane, and thousands more on the mainland, including 90 children from Catholic orphanages and children from Catholic orphanages. Ten women were included.
The storm also caused significant damage to property. More than 3,600 homes were destroyed, according to the government census. More than 30,000 people were left homeless after the storm, sources said.
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Thousands of people experienced property damage from the storm and became homeless as a result. (Photo by History/Universal Images Group, Getty Images)
Property damage from the storm cost the city an estimated $28 million to $30 million, according to the Galveston History Center.
3. What happened after the Galveston Hurricane?
After the storm passed, recovery efforts began.
Visit Galveston says telegraph and water services have been restored and telephone lines have been installed.
One of the most important steps law enforcement and other agencies had to take was to protect Galveston from future hurricanes expected to hit coastal cities.
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Huge sea walls were developed to protect residents and structures from dangerous weather. According to Visit Galveston, the first section of the wall he completed on July 29, 1904.
After the 1900 hurricane, a seawall was built in Galveston to protect the city. (Photo by History/Universal Images Group, Getty Images)
The first segment was 5.3 miles long, 5 feet wide, and 17 feet high. As the first segment successfully defended the city, more segments were built.
Currently, the sea wall is over 10 miles long.
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Another important initiative for local governments was to raise the city above sea level. Thousands of buildings were erected after the devastating hurricane.
In 2008, Category 2 Hurricane Ike hit Galveston with winds of 110 mph. After the storm passed, the city’s largest health care provider reported treating only 16 patients with relatively minor injuries and said there were “no major injuries.”
