On September 8, 1900, Galveston was struck by the deadliest hurricane in U.S. history. The category four hurricane and its winds of 135 mph and 15 foot storm surge killed 6,000-12,000 people. The prosperous Texas seaport decided that raising all of the buildings and constructing a sewall was the answer to protect the city from future hurricanes.
It has worked. The first test came in 1915 when a similar hurricane to the 1900 storm pushed a 12 foot storm surge into the city. Fifty three people died.
In 1983, Alicia strengthened rapidly before landfall but the fact that it had not been a hurricane for long and it was very small meant little storm surge and Galveston escaped without inundation. The City’s good luck has run out tonight.
Galveston Emergency Management reports 6 feet of water in the Galveston County Courthouse in downtown Galveston.
LATE WIND REPORTS
HOUSTON/WILL HOBBY,TX (HOU) ASOS reports gust of 72.0 knots (84 mph) from NNW @ 0715Z (2:15 a.m. CDT…Pressure 28.63…KHOU 130715Z 34050G72KT 1/2SM -RA FG FEW004 BKN016 OVC021 24/23 A2863 RMK AO2 PK WND 34072/0715 PRESFR P0037
