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On This Day: Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900 Occurs
September 4, 2020 at 07:13 PM EDT
By WeatherBug's Christopher Smith
Today marks 120 years since the deadliest hurricane struck the United States- the Galveston Hurricane of 1900.
On this day in 1920, Galveston, Texas, was hit with a hurricane that had winds in excess of 130 mph, or equivalent to a Category 4 major hurricane. The storm surge was as high as 15 feet, much higher than a one-story home.
By the time the storm was done, more than 8,000 lives were lost and more than 3,500 homes and businesses were destroyed. The storm damage in Galveston alone would have been equivalent to $20-30 million today.
The large number of lives lost was likely due to the lack of communication back in 1900. It was not until September 7, one day before the hurricane struck, that Galveston’s Weather Bureau Manager, Dr. Isaac M. Cline, put hurricane warning flags atop the Weather Bureau building and tried to convince citizens of the impending storm. The warning may have come late, but his actions likely still saved many lives.
While the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 marks one of the U.S’ worst natural disasters, modern weather forecasting today likely would have helped limit the tragedy that occurred in Galveston, Texas. Forecasts of hurricanes now occur from several days out and there are many observations, both which help make the public informed of such dangerous storms.
Either way, the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 is certainly one to remember.
Sources: nhc.noaa.gov, nps.gov
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Story Image: Seeking valuables in the wreckage, Galveston, Texas. (Wikimedia Commons)
On this day in 1920, Galveston, Texas, was hit with a hurricane that had winds in excess of 130 mph, or equivalent to a Category 4 major hurricane. The storm surge was as high as 15 feet, much higher than a one-story home.
By the time the storm was done, more than 8,000 lives were lost and more than 3,500 homes and businesses were destroyed. The storm damage in Galveston alone would have been equivalent to $20-30 million today.
The large number of lives lost was likely due to the lack of communication back in 1900. It was not until September 7, one day before the hurricane struck, that Galveston’s Weather Bureau Manager, Dr. Isaac M. Cline, put hurricane warning flags atop the Weather Bureau building and tried to convince citizens of the impending storm. The warning may have come late, but his actions likely still saved many lives.
While the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 marks one of the U.S’ worst natural disasters, modern weather forecasting today likely would have helped limit the tragedy that occurred in Galveston, Texas. Forecasts of hurricanes now occur from several days out and there are many observations, both which help make the public informed of such dangerous storms.
Either way, the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 is certainly one to remember.
Sources: nhc.noaa.gov, nps.gov
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Story Image: Seeking valuables in the wreckage, Galveston, Texas. (Wikimedia Commons)