1900 Galveston Hurricane Facts That Will Put You in A whirlwind

Hurricanes, like any other natural disaster, are dangeroud events that no one wants to experience.

Can you imagine how people in the 19th century would have dealt with the aftermath of a natural disaster? No doubt, the economy would have been severely impacted, and the lack of technology would have made rescue efforts much more challenging.

The Galveston hurricane of 1900 was one of the deadliest category four hurricanes to ever hit the United States, killing over 6,000 people and destroying thousands of buildings. The 1900 hurricane led to the decline of the Golden Era of Galveston, and it took almost 12 years to recover from the aftermath of the devastation.

Tragically, in 1915, Galveston had to face another hurricane. Due to its geographical location, the place attracted traders.

However, it also meant that it faced frequent natural disasters, such as storms and floods.

This forced the government to build the Galveston Seawall for their own defense from strong winds and floods. Despite the difficult years that the city endured, Galveston was built back up due to its importance as a trade hub.

The preceding period was known as the Golden Era, while the following period was known as the Open Era. Apart from this event, Galveston is known for its beautiful beaches, which attract tourists to visit the place to this day.

If you enjoy reading this article about Galveston's powerful storm and tropical cyclones, then do read some interesting and surprising fun facts about the 1944 Vesuvius eruption and the 1925 Tristate tornado.

How did the hurricane of 1900 affect Galveston?

The hurricane of 1900 was one of the deadliest storm surges ever. It killed thousands of people and flooded many properties. This hurricane lasted a little over two weeks.

The hurricane affected the Galveston and Texas areas. It also affected an area from Florida to Louisiana. The hurricane storm surge wreaked havoc on the areas where it occurred. The Galveston storm took around 6,000–12,0000 lives. The effects of the devastating hurricane were mostly seen in the Galveston Gulf and Bay region.

Of all the Atlantic hurricanes, the Galveston storm was the third to fifth deadliest tropical storm or cyclone, killing many with its fast wind speeds. In the United States, the natural disaster was the deadliest, while the second deadliest was the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane, which killed over 2500 people.

Around 7,000 buildings were destroyed, and 10,000 people were left homeless. Engineers had to work on the Gulf of Mexico, Galveston Seawall, and Galveston Island to improve the region's condition. The Golden Era of Galveston ended in the history of the United States.

Why is the hurricane of 1900 considered a devastating event?

The hurricane of 1900 is considered a devastating event in the history of the United States because its strong storm surge led to the end of the Golden Era of Galveston Island.

The history of Galveston Island heavily features the civil wars that took place there and the developments that helped Galveston to become one of the third busiest ports in America. Texas warriors used the port of Galveston to revolt against the Gulf of Mexico.

Later, the economy developed in the fields of cotton, sugar, and cattle. In 1878, the cotton trade increased in Galveston.

Prior to the Galveston Civil War, which began on October 4, 1862, the majority of the city was under Confederate control. After the hurricane waves and storms hit the gulf region, it took away all the wealth and economy from the area, not to mention killing thousands of people who lived in the area.

The ones who survived had to face the devastating sites left by the hurricane, which started on September 8, 1900.

The before and after of the Gulf was totally different, as the strong wind and storm of the great hurricane of Galveston created the deadliest natural disaster that many people had seen. It all started with strong winds and storms between the gulf and the bay, along with flooding in the region due to bad weather conditions.

The storm surge was 15 ft (4.6 m) high with a speed of 145 mph (233 kph).

In the wake of the devastating aftermath of September 8, 1900, the government of Galveston decided to build the Galveston Seawall. Around 17 ft (5 m) high, the entire city was raised off of the floor. The Open Era of Galveston started but faced many challenges because of the building of the Houston Ship Channel.

What was Galveston before the hurricane of 1900?

Galveston had faced many civil wars and economic growth due to its location near the gulf region prior to the hurricanes, although many steps were later taken for the improvement of the city.

Before 1900, it had become one of the most populated cities, with a population of 37,000 people. Galveston's location between Texas and the Gulf of Mexico made it a popular tourist destination with many people competing with New Orleans.

It took almost 12 years for the city to rebuild itself, as the 1900 hurricane was followed by another natural disaster only a few years later. This other hurricane occured in 1915 and left eight people dead.

In history, the era before September 8, 1900 (the Great Galveston hurricane) was called the Golden Era. The naval base, cotton compress, post office, gaslight industry, and many more made Galveston city their home.

Not only this, but it was also the first place where a Roman Catholic Cathedral was built in Texas. The German language was in usage at the time due to German immigration to the area.

After the civil war, black people living in Texas were freed from slavery. Norris Wright Cuney also stood for the position of chairmanship of the Texas Republican Party and was regarded as the first black American in the 19th century.

However, the aftermath of the Galveston hurricane took the city in another direction. It started to develop again, leading to what was called the Open Era of Galveston.

Has Galveston faced a hurricane like that again?

Before the hurricane storm of 1900, Galveston had faced around 11 hurricanes and terrible weather conditions, but the 1900 hurricane storms were the worst. 

Since then, there has not been a deadlier Galveston hurricane than the one in 1900. The 1915 hurricane was also a Category four hurricane, but not much damage was recorded in comparison to the 1900 Galveston hurricane. The speed of the 1915 hurricane was recorded at a maximum speed of 145 mph (233 kph) on August 14, 1915.

According to the weather forecaster, it rose to a height of 16 ft (4.9 m). However, less damage was recorded in Galveston.

Likewise, there are many hurricanes recorded as per weather forecasters, with the latest being on September 12, 2008. The region and geographical location of Galveston are such that, every four years, at least three hurricanes or tropical cyclones will hit the city.

Due to its geographical location, the people have had to acquaint themselves with living in such a place. Hurricane Carla in 1961 and Hurricane Alicia in 1983 are also remembered for their destructive impacts on the area. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina, with a speed of 174 mph (280 kph), hit close to Galveston in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Even after knowing these facts, it is hard to imagine what a person would have gone through in the aftermath of the devastating conditions in 1900. It would have been a really tough time for them, especially in the case of the 1900 Galveston Hurricane.

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