Hurricane
Disasters Live
Hurricane
Disasters Live
An eHuggy Network Website © Copyright Hurricane Disasters Live
1900 Galveston Hurricane - Storm track of 1900 Galveston Hurricane
Formed - August 27, 1900 - Dissipated - September 12, 1900
Highest winds - 150 mph (240 km/h) Lowest pressure - ≤936 mbar
Damages - $25-50 million (1900 USD) - $928 million (2000 USD)
The early days of the 20th century brought with it many startling changes in the United States. The Wright Brothers were conducting flight experiments at Kittyhawk, North Carolina. The U.S. population topped 76 million in 1900 compared to 270 million in the year 2000. And, the U.S. government revenue was $567 million in 1900. At the close of the 20th century it took in $1.7 trillion.
There were also many unforgettable events that took place in the United States throughout the 20th century. The Galveston, Texas, hurricane of 1900 remains the worst natural disaster in American history. More than 8,000 people perished September 8, 1900 when the category 4 hurricane thundered into Galveston, where many people were vacationing.
The storm's origins are unclear, due to the limited observation abilities in the early 20th century, but it is believed to have begun as a Cape Verde-type hurricane, a tropical wave moving off the western coast of Africa. The first formal sighting of the hurricane's precursor occurred on August 27, about one thousand miles (1,600 km) east of the Windward Islands, when a ship recorded an area of "unsettled weather".
The city of Galveston at the dawn of the 20th century was a thriving metropolis with a population of 42,000. Its location on the natural harbor of Galveston Bay along the Gulf of Mexico made it the center of trade and the biggest city in the state of Texas. With this prosperity came a sense of complacency.
25 years earlier, the nearby town of Indianola on Matagorda Bay was going through its own boom and was second to Galveston among Texas ports. Then in 1875, a powerful hurricane blew through, nearly leveling the town. The people rebuilt, but a second hurricane in 1886 caused residents to simply give up and move elsewhere.
Galveston, little more than a giant sandbar along the gulf coast had called for a seawall to be built to protect the city, but their concerns fell on deaf ears by the majority of the population and the city's government.
Needless to say the seawall was not built and continued development on the island increased its vulnerability to storms. Sand dunes along the shore were cut down to fill low areas in the city, removing what little protection there was to the Gulf of Mexico.
We have to keep in mind that in 1900 there were no weather satellites and no Doppler radar. However, warnings were issued by the U.S. Weather Bureau, the predecessor of NOAA's National Weather Service. People were advised to seek higher ground but even as today, many didn't heed the warnings choosing instead to watch the huge waves.
On Saturday, September 8, Galveston took an almost direct hit from the hurricane. Waves exceded 15 feet and winds howled at 130 miles per hour. By the time the storm passed, more than 8,000 people were dead, countless were injured and half of the island's homes had been swept away.
Even though there have been great technological advances in weather forecasting over the past 100 years and the city has erected an 18-foot seawall, Galveston is not invincible to such powerful storms.
Proud Sponsor
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
CATEGORY
Category 5 =
Category 4 =
Category 3 =
Category 2 =
Category 1 =
Tropical Storm =
Tropical Depression =
WIND SPEEDS
155 mph +
131 - 154 mph
111 - 130 mph
96 - 110 mph
74 - 95mph
39 - 73 mph
38 mph or less
Watch vs Warning - Know the Difference
A HURRICANE WATCH issued for your part of the coast indicates the possibility that you could experience hurricane conditions within 36 hours. This watch should trigger your family's disaster plan, and protective measures should be initiated, especially those actions that require extra time such as securing a boat, leaving a barrier island, etc.
A HURRICANE WARNING issued for your part of the coast indicates that sustained winds of at least 74 mph are expected within 24 hours or less. Once this warning has been issued, your family should be in the process of completing protective actions and deciding the safest location to be during the storm.
Our Partners
