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Revisit the hurricanes that changed the Texas Coast forever
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1900 Galveston hurricane
The highest elevation in Galveston at the time was only 8.7 feet above sea level. This storm brought with it a storm surge of more than 15 feet. Evacuation efforts were hampered when rising water washed away train tracks. Twenty percent of the island’s population was killed, or an estimated 8,000 people.
1900 Galveston hurricaneThe highest elevation in Galveston at the time was only 8.7 feet above sea level. This storm brought with it a storm surge of more than 15 feet. Evacuation efforts were hampered when
Photo: U.S. Library Of Congress
1900 Galveston hurricane
The highest elevation in Galveston at the time was only 8.7 feet above sea level. This storm brought with it a storm surge of more than 15 feet. Evacuation efforts were hampered when rising water washed away train tracks. Twenty percent of the island’s population was killed, or an estimated 8,000 people.
1900 Galveston hurricane
The highest elevation in Galveston at the time was only 8.7 feet above sea level. This storm brought with it a storm surge of more than 15 feet. Evacuation efforts were hampered when
Photo: U.S. Library Of Congress
Sunny weather is expected to greet the first day of hurricane season in Houston on Saturday, but forecasters predict nine to 15 named storms over the coming months, according to National Hurricane Center.
Earlier reports in the Houston Chronicle say of those 15 named storms, which carry winds of 39 mph or higher, four to eight could become hurricanes, which carry winds of at least 74 mph.
Although meteorologists predict a ‘near-normal’ Atlantic hurricane season, local experts urge people not let their guard down.
Read on HoustonChronicle.com: Forecast of ‘near-normal’ hurricane season isn’t certain, experts say
“There’s a lot of hedging in there. That’s kind of the reality with these sort of things; hurricane forecasting is not a perfect science yet,” said Matt Lanza, a forecast meteorologist in Houston’s energy sector and the managing editor of the website Space City Weather. “It’s a good incentive for people to not let their guard down despite a normal to below-normal potential season.”
The first named storm of the season fizzled out last week over the western Atlantic. On May 21, Subtropical Storm Andrea reached about 280 miles west-southwest of Bermuda as maximum sustained winds dropped to about 35 mph, according to the Associated Press.
Tropical cyclone activity isn’t expected in the Atlantic over the next 48 hours, but Houston-area officials have already encouraged double-checking home or vehicle insurance policies.
The Pearland Office of Emergency Management said people need to understand how to evacuate and where they plan to go. People should also start stocking up on the necessary disaster supplies, including medication, water, food for several days and any items for family members with special needs.
>>> As we gear up for the stormy season, revisit some of the worst hurricanes that shaped the Texas Coast forever.
Julian Gill is a digital reporter in Houston. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | julian.gill@chron.com | NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here.