Log inSign up for FREE
Library

Great Storm

Last updated over 5 years ago
1 question

How did the 1900 Galveston Hurricane affect the city?


What happened?

By the year 1900, Galveston was one of the most prosperous, wealthy cities in the United States. Because Galveston was a port, close to oil production, and was popular with tourists, it was known as the “Wall Street of the South.” Bath houses, the beach, and shopping were all popular tourist attractions for people visiting Galveston. Galveston was even the very first city in Texas to have electricity and telephones! At the time, Galveston was seen as a city of the future. However, everything was about to change for this wealthy coastal city.
In September 1900, the weather service in Galveston began receiving reports of a large storm going over Cuba. However, many people in charge, including Weather Bureau director Isaac Cline, believed the storm would move away from Galveston and that no strong hurricane could hit the island.
On September 8th, the day started like any other. The skies were partly cloudy with some strong waves. Citizens were not concerned about the storm. Eventually, it started to become clear that this would be no ordinary storm. Things got worse very quickly. The streets began to flood, and the winds became so strong they could blow heavy debris into the air.
By nightfall, things were truly terrible. The winds reached 145 miles per hour, and almost the entire island of Galveston was underwater due to the storm surge. By the time the night was over, up to 10,000 people (almost ⅓ of the whole city of Galveston) were dead and over 3,600 buildings were completely destroyed. To this day, the 1900 Storm is the most deadly natural disaster in U.S. History!
1

If you were on Galveston island with no way to escape, what would you do to try to survive?
Type your answer below.