Galveston Hurricane of 1900

Category 4 hurricane (SSHS)
Surface weather analysis of the hurricane on September 8, just before landfall.
Formed	August 27, 1900
Dissipated	September 12, 1900
Highest winds	150 mph (240 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
Lowest pressure	936 mbar (hPa; 27.65 inHg)
Fatalities	6000 – 12,000 direct
Damage	$20 million (1900 USD) $494 million (2007 USD)
Areas affected	Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, south Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas (particularly around Galveston), much of the Central United States, Great Lakes region, Atlantic Canada
Part of the 1900 Atlantic hurricane season

The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 made landfall on the city of Galveston, Texas on September 8, 1900. It had estimated winds of 135 mph (215 km/h) at landfall, making it a Category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.^[1] The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a scale classifying most Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms, and thereby become hurricanes. ... is the 239th day of the year (240th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Äž: For the film, see: 1900 (film). ... is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Äž: For the film, see: 1900 (film). ... Miles per hour is a unit of speed, expressing the number of international miles covered per hour. ... Kilometres per hour (American spelling: kilometers per hour) is a unit of both speed (scalar) and velocity (vector). ... The bar (symbol bar), decibar (symbol dbar) and the millibar (symbol mbar, also mb) are units of pressure. ... For other uses, see Pascal. ... For other uses, see Pascal. ... USD redirects here. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Florida. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... Galveston redirects here. ... The Central United States is a bridge region between the Eastern United States and Western United States. ... The Great Lakes from space The Laurentian Great Lakes are a group of five large lakes in North America on or near the Canada-United States border. ... HI Eric u suck!!!!!!!!!!!!! from,Trevor and Dalton ... The 1900 Atlantic hurricane season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. ... Hurricane Charley making landfall on August 13, 2004 at its peak intensity. ... Galveston redirects here. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Äž: For the film, see: 1900 (film). ... Miles per hour is a unit of speed, expressing the number of international miles covered per hour. ... Kilometre per hour (American spelling: kilometer per hour) is a unit of both speed (scalar) and velocity (vector). ... The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a scale classifying most Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms, and thereby become hurricanes. ... The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a scale classifying most Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms, and thereby become hurricanes. ...

The hurricane caused great loss of life. The death toll has been estimated to be between 6,000 and 12,000 individuals;^[2] the number most cited in official reports is 8,000, giving the storm the third-highest number of casualties of any Atlantic hurricane, after the Great Hurricane of 1780 and 1998’s Hurricane Mitch. The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 is to date the deadliest natural disaster ever to strike the United States. By contrast, the second-deadliest storm to strike the United States, the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane, caused approximately 2,500 deaths, and the deadliest storm of recent times, Hurricane Katrina, claimed the lives of approximately 1,800 people. Cyclone Catarina, a rare South Atlantic tropical cyclone viewed from the International Space Station on March 26, 2004 Hurricane and Typhoon redirect here. ... Atlantic hurricane refers to a tropical cyclone that forms in the Atlantic Ocean north of the equator, usually in the Northern Hemisphere summer or autumn. ... Lowest pressure Unknown Fatalities 22,000+ direct Damage Unknown Areas affected Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Bermuda, possibly Florida (information scarce) Part of the 1780 Atlantic hurricane season The Great Hurricane of 1780, also known as the Hurricane San Calixto II,[1] is the deadliest Atlantic hurricane on record. ... The 1998 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1998, and lasted until November 30, 1998. ... Lowest pressure 905 mbar (hPa; 26. ... Mount Pinatubo eruption, 1991 A natural disaster is according to or provided by nature. ... Lowest pressure 929 mbar (hPa; 27. ... This article is about the Atlantic hurricane of 2005. ...

The hurricane occurred before the practice of assigning official code names to tropical storms was instituted, and thus it is commonly referred to under a variety of descriptive names. Typical names for the storm include the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, the Great Galveston Hurricane, and, especially in older documents, the Galveston Flood. It is often referred to by Galveston locals as The Great Storm or The 1900 Storm.

City of Galveston

At the end of the 19th century, the city of Galveston was a booming town with a population of 42,000 residents. Its position 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. Galveston Bay is a large estuary located along Texass coastline. ... Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ...

This photograph shows the aftermath of the hurricane and the destruction it wrought.

A quarter of a century earlier, the nearby town of Indianola on Matagorda Bay was undergoing its own boom and was second to Galveston among Texas port cities. Then in 1875, a powerful hurricane blew through, nearly destroying the town. Indianola was rebuilt, but a second hurricane in 1886 caused residents to simply give up and move elsewhere.^[3] Description Wreckage covering the city of Galveston, Texas in the wake of the Galveston Hurricane of 1900. ... Description Wreckage covering the city of Galveston, Texas in the wake of the Galveston Hurricane of 1900. ... Indianola, Texas in 1875 Indianola, Texas is a ghost town located on Matagorda Bay, and was formerly the county seat of Calhoun County. ... Matagorda Bay is a large bay on the Texas coast, located between Calhoun and Matagorda counties. ... Lowest pressure 925 mbar (hPa; 27. ...

Many Galveston residents took the destruction of Indianola as an object lesson on the threat posed by hurricanes. Galveston was a low, flat island, little more than a giant sandbar along the Gulf Coast. They called for a seawall to be constructed to protect the city, but their concerns were dismissed by the majority of the population and the city’s government. In geography, a bar is a linear shoaling landform feature within a body of water. ... The Gulf of Mexico is a major body of water bordered and nearly landlocked by North America. ... A seawall is a form of hard coastal defence constructed on the inland part of a coast to reduce the effects of strong waves and are built in the water. ...

Since its formal founding in 1839, the city of Galveston had weathered numerous storms, all of which the city survived with ease. Residents believed any future storms would be no worse than previous events. In order to provide an official meteorological statement on the threat of hurricanes, Galveston Weather Bureau section director Isaac Cline wrote an 1891 article in the Galveston Daily News in which he argued not only that a seawall was not needed to protect the city, but also that it would be impossible for a hurricane of significant strength to strike the island.^[4] // Meteorology (from Greek: μετέωρον, meteoron, high in the sky; and λόγος, logos, knowledge) is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and forecasting. ... == [[ Isaac Cline om sri sathya sai ram Isaac Monroe Cline (October 13, 1861 – August 3, 1955) was the chief meteorologist at the Galveston, Texas office of the US Weather Bureau from 1889 to 1901. ... The Galveston County Daily News is a newspaper published in Galveston, Texas. ...

The seawall was not built, and development activities on the island actively increased its vulnerability to storms. Sand dunes along the shore were cut down to fill low areas in the city, removing what little barrier there was to the Gulf of Mexico. This article is about the sand formations, for other meanings see Dune (disambiguation) Mesquite Flat Dunes in Death Valley National Park In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by eolian (wind-related) processes. ...

Storm history

Origins

Storm path

The storm’s origins are unclear, due to the limited observation ability at the end of the 19th century. Ship reports were the only reliable tool for observing hurricanes at sea, and because wireless telegraphy was in its infancy, these reports were not available until the ships put in at a harbor. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 459 KB) Summary 1900 Galveston hurricane track. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x633, 459 KB) Summary 1900 Galveston hurricane track. ... Wireless telegraphy is the practice of remote writing (see telegraphy) without the wires normally involved in an electrical telegraph. ...

Like most powerful Atlantic hurricanes, the 1900 storm 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 1,000 mi (1,600 km) east of the Windward Islands, when a ship recorded an area of “unsettled weather.” Hurricane Ivan, a category 5 Cape Verde-type hurricane A Cape Verde-type hurricane is an Atlantic hurricane that develops near the Cape Verde islands, off the west coast of Africa. ... Tropical waves, also known as easterly waves, are elongated areas of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, causing areas of cloudiness and thunderstorms. ... is the 239th day of the year (240th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Windward Islands are the southern islands of the Lesser Antilles. ...

Three days later, Antigua reported a severe thunderstorm passing over, followed by the hot, humid calmness that often occurs after the passage of a tropical cyclone. By September 1, U.S. Weather Bureau observers were reporting on a “storm of moderate intensity (not a hurricane)” southeast of Cuba. A severe thunderstorm is a thunderstorm with winds 58 mph or greater, 3/4 inch or larger hail, or tornadoes. ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is an agency of the United States Department of Commerce. ...

Warning signs

Hurricane track from September 1 – 10

On September 4, the Galveston office of the U.S. Weather Bureau began receiving warnings from the Bureau’s central office in Washington, D.C. that a “tropical storm” had moved northward over Cuba. The Weather Bureau forecasters had no way of knowing where the storm was or where it was going. At the time, they discouraged the use of terms such as tornado or hurricane to avoid panicking residents in the path of any storm event. Download high resolution version (1772x1200, 1624 KB)The track of the Galveston Hurricane This was the greatest natural disaster in terms of loss of life in U.S. history 6,000 to 8,000 individuals died in this hurricane. ... Download high resolution version (1772x1200, 1624 KB)The track of the Galveston Hurricane This was the greatest natural disaster in terms of loss of life in U.S. history 6,000 to 8,000 individuals died in this hurricane. ... is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is an agency of the United States Department of Commerce. ... ...

Conditions in the Gulf of Mexico were ripe for further strengthening of the storm. The Gulf had seen little cloud cover for several weeks, and the seas were as warm as bathwater, according to one report. For a storm system that feeds off moisture, the Gulf of Mexico was enough to boost the storm from a tropical storm to a hurricane in a matter of days, with further strengthening likely. Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ...

The storm was reported to be north of Key West on September 6, and in the early morning hours of Friday, September 7, the Weather Bureau office in New Orléans, Louisiana issued a report of heavy damage along the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts. Details of the storm were not widespread; damage to telegraph lines limited communication. The Weather Bureau’s central office in Washington, D.C. ordered storm warnings raised from Pensacola, Florida to Galveston. Map of Key West Key West is a city located in Monroe County, Florida. ... is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: The Crescent City, The Big Easy, The City That Care Forgot, NOLA (acronym for New Orleans, LA) Location in the State of Louisiana and the United States Coordinates: Country United States State Louisiana Parish Orleans Founded 1718 Mayor Ray Nagin (D) Area    - City 350. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Nickname: Location in Escambia County and the state of Florida Coordinates: , Country State County Escambia Government  - Mayor John Fogg Area  - City 39. ...

By the afternoon of the 7th, large swells from the southeast were observed on the Gulf, and clouds at all altitudes began moving in from the northeast. Both of these observations are consistent with a hurricane approaching from the east. The Galveston Weather Bureau office raised its double square flags; a hurricane warning was in effect. Warnings and watches are two levels of alert issued by national weather forecasting bodies to coastal areas threatened by the imminent approach of a tropical cyclone of Tropical Storm or Hurricane intensity. ...

The ship Louisiana encountered the hurricane at 1 p.m. that day after departing New Orléans. Captain Halsey estimated wind speeds of 150 mph (240 km/h). These winds correspond to a Category 4 hurricane in the modern-day Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a scale classifying most Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms, and thereby become hurricanes. ...

Weather Bureau forecasters believed the storm would travel northeast and affect the mid-Atlantic coast. “To them, the storm appeared to have begun a long turn or ‘recurve’ that would take it first into Florida, then drive it northeast toward an eventual exit into the Atlantic.”^[5] Cuban forecasters disagreed, saying the hurricane would continue west. One Cuban forecaster predicted the hurricane would continue into central Texas near San Antonio. San Antonio redirects here. ...

Early the next morning, the swells continued despite only partly cloudy skies. Largely because of the unremarkable weather, few residents heeded the warning. Few people evacuated across Galveston’s bridges to the mainland, and the majority of the population was unconcerned by the rain clouds that had begun rolling in by midmorning.

Isaac Cline claimed that he took it upon himself to travel along the beach and other low-lying areas warning people personally of the storm’s approach.^[6] This is based on Cline’s own reports and has been called into question in recent years, as no other survivors corroborated his account. == [[ Isaac Cline om sri sathya sai ram Isaac Monroe Cline (October 13, 1861 – August 3, 1955) was the chief meteorologist at the Galveston, Texas office of the US Weather Bureau from 1889 to 1901. ...

Cline’s role in the disaster is the subject of some controversy. Supporters point to Cline’s issuing a hurricane warning without permission from the Bureau’s central office; detractors (including author Erik Larson) point to Cline’s earlier insistence that a seawall was unnecessary and his belief that an intense hurricane could not strike the island. Erik Larson (born January 1, 1954) is an American author. ...

The storm

The last train to reach Galveston left Houston on the morning of September 8 at 9:45 a.m. It found the tracks washed out, and passengers were forced to transfer to a relief train on parallel tracks to complete their journey. Even then, debris on the track kept the train’s progress at a crawl. Houston redirects here. ... is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The 95 travelers on the train from Beaumont were not so lucky. They found themselves at the Bolivar Peninsula waiting for the ferry that would carry them, train and all, to the island. When they arrived, the high seas forced the ferry captain to give up on his attempt to dock. The train attempted to return the way it had come, but rising water blocked its path. Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: , Counties Settled 1835 Incorporation 1838 Gentilic Beaumonter Government  - Type Council-Manager  - Mayor Becky Ames  - City Manager Kyle Hayes  - Mayor Pro - Tem Nancy Beaulieu Area  - City 222. ... Bolivar Peninsula is a narrow strip of land in Galveston County, Texas that separates the eastern part of Galveston Bay from the Gulf of Mexico. ...

By early afternoon, a steady northeastern wind had picked up. By 5 p.m., the Bureau office was recording sustained hurricane-force winds. That night, the wind direction shifted to the east, and then to the southeast as the hurricane’s eye began to pass over the island.

One of the last messages that reached the mainland was from Cline’s brother at 3:30 p.m., reporting “Gulf rising, water covers streets of about half of city.” Later he regretted not saying the whole city was under water.^[4] Shortly thereafter, the telegraph lines were cut.

Homes in Galveston such as this one were reduced to timbers by the hurricane winds and floods.

The highest measured wind speed was 100 mph (160 km/h) just after 6 p.m., but the Weather Bureau’s anemometer was blown off the building shortly after that measurement was recorded.^[4] The eye passed over the city around 8 p.m. Maximum winds were estimated at 120 mph (190 km/h) at the time, but later estimates placed the hurricane at the higher Category 4 classification on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.^[7] The lowest recorded barometric pressure was 28.48 inHg (964.4 mbar),^[2] considered at the time to be so low as to be obviously in error. Modern estimates later placed the storm’s central pressure at 27.49 inHg (930.9 mbar), but this was subsequently adjusted to the storm's official lowest measured central pressure of 27.63 inHg (936 mbar). Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1196x696, 99 KB)Dammage after the Great Gaveston Hurricace of the 1900s Copyright status This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1196x696, 99 KB)Dammage after the Great Gaveston Hurricace of the 1900s Copyright status This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... A hemispherical cup anemometer of the type invented in 2000 by John Thomas Romney Robinson An anemometer is a device for measuring the velocity or the pressure of the wind, and is one instrument used in a weather station. ... The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a scale classifying most Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms, and thereby become hurricanes. ... Atmospheric pressure is the pressure caused by the weight of air above any area in the Earths atmosphere. ... Pressure is the application of force to a surface, and the concentration of that force in a given area. ... The bar (symbol bar), decibar (symbol dbar) and the millibar (symbol mbar, also mb) are units of pressure. ...

Ten refugees from the Beaumont train sought shelter at the Point Bolivar lighthouse with 200 residents of Port Bolivar that were already there. The 85 that stayed with the train died when the storm surge overran the tops of the cars.^[8] The Bolivar Lighthouse is an historic lighthouse in Port Bolivar, Texas, that was built in 1872. ... Port Bolivar, Texas, is an unincorporated community located at the end of the Bolivar Peninsula in Galveston County, Texas, USA. As of 1990, Port Bolivar had a population of 1,200. ... Impact of a storm surge A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically a tropical cyclone. ...

By 11 p.m., the wind was southerly and diminishing. On Sunday morning, clear skies and a 20 mph (30 km/h) breeze off the Gulf of Mexico greeted the Galveston survivors.

The storm continued on, and was tracked into Oklahoma. From there, it continued over the Great Lakes while still sustaining winds of almost 40 mph (as recorded over Milwaukee, Wisconsin) and passed north of Halifax, Nova Scotia on September 12. From there it traveled into the North Atlantic where it disappeared from observations.^[2] For other uses, see Oklahoma (disambiguation). ... The Great Lakes from space The Laurentian Great Lakes are a group of five large lakes in North America on or near the Canada-United States border. ... For other places with the same name, see Milwaukee (disambiguation). ... The City of Halifax (1841-1996) was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia, and the largest city in Atlantic Canada. ... Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit (Latin: One defends and the other conquers) Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Regional Municipality Official languages English (de facto) Government Lieutenant-Governor Mayann E. Francis Premier Rodney MacDonald (PC) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament House seats 11 Senate seats 10 Confederation July 1, 1867... is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Atlantic (disambiguation) The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. ...

Impact

Galveston

At the time of the 1900 storm, the highest point in the city of Galveston was only 8.7 ft (2.7 m) above sea level.^[4] The hurricane had brought with it a storm surge of over 15 ft (4.6 m),^[10] which washed over the entire island. The surge knocked buildings off their foundations, and the surf pounded them to pieces. Over 3,600 homes were destroyed,^[10] and a wall of debris faced the ocean.^[11] The few buildings which survived, mostly solidly-built mansions and houses along the Strand District, are today maintained as tourist attractions. A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... For considerations of sea level change, in particular rise associated with possible global warming, see sea level rise. ... Impact of a storm surge A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically a tropical cyclone. ... The Strand District, in downtown Galveston, Texas (USA), is a National Historic Landmark District of mainly Victorian era buildings that now house restaurants, antique stores, and curio shops. ...

A marker along The Strand indicating a building that survived the 1900 hurricane

As terrible as the damage to the city’s buildings was, the human cost was even greater. Due to the destruction of the bridges to the mainland and the telegraph lines, no word of the city’s destruction was able to reach the mainland.^[12] At 11 a.m. on September 9, one of the few ships at the Galveston wharfs to survive the storm, the Pherabe, arrived in Texas City on the western side of Galveston Bay. It carried six messengers from the city. When they reached the telegraph office in Houston at 3 a.m. on September 10, a short message was sent to Texas Governor Joseph D. Sayers and U.S. President William McKinley: “I have been deputized by the mayor and Citizen’s Committee of Galveston to inform you that the city of Galveston is in ruins.” The messengers reported an estimated five hundred dead; this was considered to be an exaggeration at the time. Image File history File links A memorial marker placed on many buildings along The Strand in Galveston, Texas, commemorating the building having survived the Hurricane of 1900. ... Image File history File links A memorial marker placed on many buildings along The Strand in Galveston, Texas, commemorating the building having survived the Hurricane of 1900. ... is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Texas City is a city in Galveston County in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metropolitan area. ... is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... In politics, Governor of Texas is the title given to the chief executive of the state of Texas. ... Joseph Draper Sayers (September 23, 1841 — May 15, 1929) was Governor of Texas from 1899 to 1903. ... This article is about the 25th President of the United States; for other people named William McKinley, see William McKinley (disambiguation). ...

The citizens of Houston knew a powerful storm had blown through and had made ready to provide assistance. Workers set out by rail and ship for the island almost immediately. Rescuers arrived to find the city completely destroyed. Eight thousand people — 20% of the island’s population — had lost their lives. Most had drowned or been crushed as the waves pounded the debris that had been their homes hours earlier. Many survived the storm itself, but died after several days trapped under the wreckage of the city, with rescuers unable to reach them. The rescuers could hear the screams of the survivors as they walked on the debris trying to rescue those they could. They realized that there was no hope. Debris (French, pronounced (IPA) dibri) is a word used to describe the remains of something that has been otherwise destroyed. ...

So many died that corpses were piled onto carts for burial at sea.

The bodies were so numerous that burial was not a viable option. Initially, the dead were taken out to sea and dumped; however, the currents of the gulf washed the bodies back onto the beach, so a new solution was needed.^[13] Funeral pyres were set up wherever the dead were found. In the aftermath of the storm, pyres burned for weeks. Authorities had to pass out free whiskey to the work crews that were having to throw the bodies of their wives and children on the burn piles.^[8] Lowest pressure Unknown Fatalities 22,000+ direct Damage Unknown Areas affected Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Bermuda, possibly Florida (information scarce) Part of the 1780 Atlantic hurricane season The Great Hurricane of 1780, also known as the Hurricane San Calixto II,[1] is the deadliest Atlantic hurricane on record. ... The decade of the 1780s featured the 1780-1789 Atlantic hurricane seasons. ... Lowest pressure 905 mbar (hPa; 26. ... The 1998 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1998, and lasted until November 30, 1998. ... The 1900 Atlantic hurricane season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. ... Lowest pressure ≤971 mbar (hPa)[1] Damage $900 million (1974 USD) $3. ... The 1974 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1974, and lasted until November 30, 1974. ... The 1930 Dominican Republic Hurricane was a small but intense Category 4 hurricane during the 1930 Atlantic hurricane season. ... The 1930 Atlantic hurricane season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. ... Hurricane Flora blasted through the Caribbean in September and October, 1963. ... ... The decade of 1770 featured the 1770-1779 Atlantic hurricane seasons. ... The Newfoundland Hurricane (also called the Independence Hurricane) of 1775 during the 1775 Atlantic hurricane season was one of the deadliest hurricanes ever in the Atlantic basin. ... The decade of 1770 featured the 1770-1779 Atlantic hurricane seasons. ... Lowest pressure 929 mbar (hPa; 27. ... The 1928 Atlantic hurricane season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. ... Hurricane San Ciriaco was an Atlantic tropical cyclone which crossed Puerto Rico over the two day period August 8 to August 9, 1899, causing many deaths from the flooding. ... The 1899 Atlantic hurricane season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. ... This is a list of the deadliest known Atlantic hurricanes (those causing at least 1,000 deaths). ... Description Bodies being carted off for disposal after the Galveston Hurricane of 1900. ... Description Bodies being carted off for disposal after the Galveston Hurricane of 1900. ... Burial at Sea for two victims of a Japanese submarine attack on the US aircraft carrier Liscome Bay, November 1943 Burial at sea describes the procedure of disposing of human remains in the ocean. ... Funeral Pyre was the The Jams thirteenth single released on 6th June 1981. ...

More people were killed in this single storm than have been killed in the over three hundred hurricanes that have struck the United States since, combined, as of 2006. Thus, the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 remains the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history.

New York City

The rapidly moving storm was still exhibiting winds of 65mph by the time it reached New York City on September 12, 1900.^[14] The New York Times reported that pedestrian walking became difficult and that one death was attributed to the storm. A sign pole, snapped by wind, landed on a 23-year old man, crushing his skull and killing him instantly, while two others were knocked unconscious. Awnings and signs on many building broke and the canvas roofing at the Fire Department headquarters was blown off. is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Äž: For the film, see: 1900 (film). ... The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. ...

Closer to the waterfront, along the Battery seawall, waves and tides were reported to be some of the highest in recent memory of the fishermen and sailors. Spray and debris were thrown over the wall, making working along the waterfront dangerous. Small craft in New York harbor were thrown off course and tides and currents in the Hudson river made navigation difficult. In Brooklyn, The Times reported that trees were uprooted, signs and similar structures were blown down, and yachts were torn from moorings with some suffering severe damage. Due to the direction of the wind, one of the more infamous spots in New York, Coney Island, escaped the fury of the storm, although a bathing pavilion at "Bath Beach" suffered damage from wind and waves. ^[15] The Hudson River, called Muh-he-kun-ne-tuk in Mahican or as the Lenape Native Americans called it in Unami, Muhheakantuck, is a river that runs through the eastern portion of New York State and, along its southern terminus, demarcates the border between the states of New York and...

Aftermath

Rebuilding

Survivors set up temporary shelters in surplus U.S. Army tents along the shore. They were so numerous that observers began referring to it as the “White City on the Beach.” Others constructed so-called “storm lumber” homes, using salvageable material from the debris to build shelter.

Reporter Winifred Bonfils, a young journalist working for William Randolph Hearst, dressed as a boy and was the first reporter on the line at the flood’s aftermath. She delivered an exclusive set of reports and Hearst sent relief supplies by train. Winifred Black Sweet Bonfils (b. ... For other people named William Randolph Hearst, see William Randolph Hearst (disambiguation) William Randolph Hearst I (April 29, 1863 – August 14, 1951) was an American newspaper magnate. ...

By September 12, the first post-storm mail was received at Galveston. The next day, basic water service was restored, and Western Union began providing minimal telegraph service. Within three weeks, cotton was again being shipped out of the port.^[10] is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Western Union (NYSE: WU) is a financial services and communications company based in the United States. ... Telegraph and Telegram redirect here. ...

Prior to the Hurricane of 1900, Galveston was considered to be a beautiful and prestigious city and was known as the "Ellis Island of the West” and the "Wall Street of the Southwest.” .^[16] However, after the storm, development shifted north to Houston, which was enjoying the benefits of the oil boom. The dredging of the Houston Ship Channel in 1909 and 1914 ended Galveston’s hopes of returning to its former state as a major commercial center. Ellis Island, at the mouth of the Hudson River in New York Harbor, was at one time the main entry facility for immigrants entering the United States from January 1, 1892 until November 12, 1954. ... Elaborate marble facade of NYSE as seen from the intersection of Broad and Wall Streets For other uses, see Wall Street (disambiguation). ... Petro redirects here. ... The Port of Houston is the port of Houston, Texas, the fourth largest city in the United States. ...

Protection

Seawall, Galveston district

To prevent future storms from causing destruction like that of the 1900 hurricane, many improvements to the island were made. The first 3 mi (4.8 km) of the 17-foot (5 m) high Galveston Seawall were built beginning in 1902 under the direction of Henry Martyn Robert. An all-weather bridge was constructed to the mainland to replace the ones destroyed in the storm. Creator: War Department. ... Creator: War Department. ... A seawall is a form of hard coastal defence constructed on the inland part of a coast to reduce the effects of strong waves and are built in the water. ... A mile is any of several units of distance, or, in physics terminology, of length. ... “km” redirects here. ... Galveston Seawall during construction The Galveston Seawall, USA, constructed in 1902, is a seawall that was built after the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 for protection from future hurricanes. ... Henry Martyn Robert Henry Martyn Robert (May 2, 1837 – May 11, 1923) was the author of Roberts Rules of Order, which became the most widely used manual of parliamentary procedure in the United States. ...

The most dramatic effort to protect the city was its raising. Dredged sand was used to raise the city of Galveston by as much as 17 ft (5.2 m) above its previous elevation. Over 2,100 buildings were raised in the process,^[17] including the 3,000-ton St. Patrick’s Church. The seawall and raising of the island were jointly named a National Historical Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2001. The following is a partial list of historic civil engineering landmarks as designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers since it began the program in 1964. ... “ASCE” redirects here. ...

In 1915, a storm similar in strength and track to the 1900 hurricane struck Galveston. The 1915 storm brought a 12-ft (4-m) storm surge which tested the new seawall. Although 275 people lost their lives in the 1915 storm, this was a great reduction from the thousands that died in 1900.

The Galveston city government was reorganized into a commission government, a newly devised structure wherein the government is made of a small group of commissioners, each responsible for one aspect of governance. This was prompted by fears that the existing city council would be unable to handle the problem of rebuilding the city. City Commission government is a form of municipal government that was once common in the United States, but has fallen out of favor, most cities formerly governed by Commission having switched to the Council-Manager form. ...

Today, Galveston is home to a major cruise port, two universities, and a major insurance corporation. Homes and other buildings that survived the hurricane have been preserved, and give much of the city a Victorian look. The seawall, since extended to 10 mi (16 km), is now an attraction itself, as hotels and tourist attractions have been built along its length in seeming defiance of future storms. Manchester Town Hall is an example of Victorian architecture found in Manchester, UK. The Carson Mansion is an example of a Victorian home in Eureka, California, USA The term Victorian architecture can refer to one of a number of architectural styles predominantly in the Victorian era. ...

The last reported survivor of the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, Mrs. Maude Conic of Wharton, Texas, died November 14, 2004, at the claimed age of 116.^[18] (Census records indicate she was younger than that.)^[19] Wharton is a city in Wharton County, Texas, United States. ... is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Modern observation and forecasting help ensure that if another storm of similar strength threatens Galveston, the city will not be caught by surprise.

See also

Tropical cyclones Portal

Texas Portal

• List of tropical cyclones
• List of Atlantic hurricanes

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x662, 320 KB) http://eol. ... Image File history File links This image, including all photography and graphics used in it, was taken and created by myself, Shem Daimwood. ... This is a list of notable tropical cyclones, subdivided by basin and reason for notability. ...

References

• The 1900 Storm. Galveston Newspapers Inc. Retrieved on December 18, 2007.
• Bixel, Patricia Bellis & Turner, Elizabeth Hayes. (2000) Galveston and the 1900 Storm: Catastrophe and catalyst (1st ed.). University of Texas Press ISBN 0-292-70883-1
• Larson, Erik. (1999) Isaac's Storm: A Man, A Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History (1st ed.). New York:Crown Publishers. ISBN 0-609-60233-0
• Lienhard, John H. Raising Galveston. The Engines of Our Ingenuity, University of Houston. Retrieved on December 18, 2007.

is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

Notes

is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a scientific agency of the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. ... is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 240th day of the year (241st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. ... is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Äž: For the film, see: 1900 (film). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

External links

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Galveston Hurricane of 1900

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• Galveston Storm of 1900 from the NOAA (as well as similar content from the NOAA History Archives)
• The 1900 Storm - manuscripts, photographs, and other archival holdings from the Galveston and Texas History Center at the Rosenberg Library - including a list of victims
• The 1900 Storm - Galveston Island, Texas - "Remembering the Great Hurricane, September 8, 1900 - A Galveston County Daily News Presentation"
• The early history of Galveston, by Dr. J. O. Dyer, published 1916, hosted by the Portal to Texas History
• The great Galveston disaster, containing a full and thrilling account of the most appalling calamity of modern times including vivid descriptions of the hurricane, published 1900, hosted by the Portal to Texas History
• Galveston 1900: Storm of the Century Primary Source Adventure, a lesson plan hosted by The Portal to Texas History

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Image File history File links Galveston hurricane of 1900. ... Image File history File links Sound-icon. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 168th day of the year (169th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a scientific agency of the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. ... Rosenberg Library is a public library serving Galveston, Texas is one of the oldest continuously operating libraries in the U.S. State of Texas. ...

	Galveston, Texas
Attractions	Bishop's Palace  • Elissa (ship)  • Fort Crockett  • Galveston Island State Park  • Galveston Railroad Museum  • Galveston Seawall  • Galveston Island Trolley  • Grand 1894 Opera House  • Lone Star Flight Museum  • Moody Gardens  • Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum • Rosenberg Library  • St. Mary Cathedral Basilica  • Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark  • Strand National Historic Landmark District  • USS Cavalla (SS-244)  • USS Stewart (DE-238)  • Image File history File links City_of_Galveston_Texas_Seal. ... Galveston redirects here. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... The Bishops Palace, also known as Greshams Castle, is an ornate Victorian home located on Broadway and 14th Street in the East End Historic District of Galveston, Texas. ... The tall ship Elissa is a sailing ship launched on October 27, 1877. ... Fort Crockett is a government reservation originally built as a defense installation on Galveston Island overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. ... The Galveston Railroad Museum is owned and operated by the Center for Transportation and Commerce, a non-profit organization. ... Galveston Seawall during construction The Galveston Seawall, USA, constructed in 1902, is a seawall that was built after the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 for protection from future hurricanes. ... Galverton Island Trolley is a heritage streetcar in Galveston, Texas. ... The Grand 1894 Opera House in Galveston, Texas is a historic theater currently operated as a not-for-profit performing arts theater. ... The Lone Star Flight Museum, located in Galveston, Texas, displays more than 40 historically significant aircraft and many hundreds of artifacts related to the history of flight. ... Moody Gardens is a tourist complex in Galveston, Texas. ... Rosenberg Library is a public library serving Galveston, Texas is one of the oldest continuously operating libraries in the U.S. State of Texas. ... Schlitterbahn is the name used for either of three water parks located in Texas. ... The Strand District, in downtown Galveston, Texas (USA), is a National Historic Landmark District of mainly Victorian era buildings that now house restaurants, antique stores, and curio shops. ... USS Cavalla (SS/SSK/AGSS-244), a Gato-class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the cavalla, a salt water fish of the pompano family inhabiting waters off the eastern coast of the Americas from Cape Cod to Rio de la Plata. ... For other ships of the same name, see USS Stewart. ...
Companies	American National Insurance Company  • Galveston County Daily News  • Moody Foundation  • Moody National Bank  • Port of Galveston  • Texas First Bank  • Scholes International Airport at Galveston American National Insurance Company is one of the largest life insurance companies in the United States. ... The Galveston County Daily News is a newspaper published in Galveston, Texas. ... Moody National Bank (MNB) is a nationally chartered bank, founded in 1907, that is based in Galveston, Texas. ... Cranes at the Port of Galveston container terminal The Port of Galveston is the port of the city of Galveston, Texas. ... Texas First Bank is a Galveston County, Texas based bank owned by Texas Independent BancShares. ... Scholes International Airport at Galveston (IATA: GLS, ICAO: KGLS) is an airport located three miles southwest of Galveston, Texas. ...
History	Battle of Galveston  • Galveston Hurricane of 1900  • Galveston Movement  • History of the Jews in Galveston, Texas  • Strand National Historic Landmark District The Battle of Galveston occurred on January 1, 1863 when Confederate forces under Gen. ... The Galveston Movement operated between 1907 and 1914 to divert Jews fleeing Russia and eastern Europe away from crowded East Coast cities. ... The History of the Galveston Jewish Community details over a century of Jewish Texan history in Galveston, Texas, USA. // Jao de la Porta, along with his brother Morin, financed the first settlement by Europeans on Galveston Island in 1816. ... The Strand District, in downtown Galveston, Texas (USA), is a National Historic Landmark District of mainly Victorian era buildings that now house restaurants, antique stores, and curio shops. ...
Education	Galveston College  • Galveston Independent School District  • Texas A&M University at Galveston  • University of Texas Medical Branch  • Galveston College is a comprehensive community college located on Galveston Island in Galveston, Texas. ... Galveston Independent School District is a school district based in Galveston, Texas (USA). ... Texas A&M University at Galveston, also known as TAMUG, is a public university located in Galveston, Texas, USA. It serves as an ocean-oriented branch campus of Texas A&M University. ... The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) is a component of the University of Texas System located in Galveston, Texas. ...
Healthcare	John Sealy Hospital  • Shriners Burns Hospital at Galveston  • Transitional Learning Center  • University of Texas Medical Branch  • John Sealy Hospital (opened on January 10, 1890) was founded in Galveston, by the widow and brother of one of the richest citizens of Texas, John Sealy, after his death, by using his generous donation left for public aid organizations. ... // Shriners Hospitals for Children is a network of 22 pediatric non-profit hospitals across North America that provide all care at no charge. ... The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) is a component of the University of Texas System located in Galveston, Texas. ...
Media	Television:  • KLTJ (Daystar)  • KTMD (Telemundo)  • KLTJ is a full-power television station serving the Houston, Texas area and licensed in Galveston, transmitting over analog channel 22 and digital channel 23. ... KTMD is a full-power television station located in Galveston, Texas transmitting over analog channel 47, digital 48. ... AM Radio:  • KGBC  • KHCB  • KLNT  • FM Radio:  • KOVE  • KPTI  • Mediumwave radio transmissions (sometimes called Medium frequency or MF) are those between the frequencies of 300 kHz and 3000 kHz. ... KLNT-AM (branded as Norteño 1490) is a Mexican Regional Music format AM station that serves the Laredo, Texas/Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas (Mexico) border area. ... FM radio is a broadcast technology invented by Edwin Howard Armstrong that uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. ...