3. The Great Galveston Hurricane of 1990
When you see a name like “the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1990”, you know the storm earned it. The deadliest hurricane in United States history, the Galveston hurricane tore a wide swath of damage across the Caribbean, Florida, and finally Texas.
The worst damage came to the island of Galveston, just off of mainland Texas. At the time, Galveston was one of the largest and busiest ports in the United States, and a major hub of commerce. Most of the citizens of the island failed to evacuate, having heard conflicting weather reports and believing that they were safe.
At the time, the city of Galveston was only about 9 feet above sea level, and the hurricane brought with it a storm surge of 15 feet. Much of the island was quickly swept over and at least 3,700 homes were quickly destroyed. Thousands were killed, with many perishing during the initial landing.
Further, the bridges and rail lines leading to the island were destroyed or heavily damaged, impeding rescue and aid efforts. Telegraph lines were also severed, and only after a functioning boat was found was the city able to send messengers to the mainland to request aid.
In the days after the hurricane, thousands more people died due to a lack of treatment and vital supplies. In grad total, it’s estimated that as many as 12,000 people were killed. Further, the trajectory of the entire city of Galveston was irreversibly altered.
Besides the lives and hundreds of millions of dollars in damage (in today’s dollars), the hurricane essentially doused the “golden age” of the island. At the time, Galveston was becoming a hot area for investors and businesses. The massive destruction wrought by the hurricane, however, caused investors and businesses to flee, relocating to nearby Houston instead.
In an effort to protect the city from future tragedy, the entire city was actually raised by 17 feet and a massive sea wall was built. Regardless, Galveston never recovered its former glory, while Houston enjoyed a boon as businesses relocated.