117 years on the storm which destroyed galveston
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

117 years on, the storm which destroyed Galveston

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today 117 years on, the storm which destroyed Galveston

A couple walks along the shoreline as it is battered by wind and rain from Hurricane Harvey
Washington - AFP

As the United States braced for its second major hurricane in two weeks, Friday marked the 117th anniversary of the deadliest storm in US history, the "Great Galveston Hurricane."

The Texas city of Galveston, situated on a narrow strip of land on the Gulf of Mexico, was spared the worst from Hurricane Harvey, which devastated Houston last month.

But Galveston was virtually wiped off the map on September 8, 1900 by a storm which left between 6,000 and 12,000 people dead.

At the turn of the 20th century, Galveston, population 40,000, was prospering thanks to its port and the cotton industry.

But, like Harvey, the Galveston hurricane of 1900 was a Category Four storm.

Winds of over 135 miles per hour (220 kilometers per hour) demolished the entire city -- situated less than 10 feet (three meters) above sea level.

Storm surge reached 13 feet (four meters) high and bridges connecting Galveston to the mainland were wiped out.

Given forecasting technology and communications at the time, it is unclear to what extent locals and tourists were aware of the danger approaching the city some 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of Houston.

According to the History Channel, the US meteorological service did warn people to seek higher ground -- but few obeyed.

As a result, there were so many bodies that burying them proved an impossible task, according to an account of the disaster done by the Houston Chronicle in 2000 to mark the 100th anniversary.

Eventually, local politicians decided to bury the dead at sea, arranging for them to be thrown into waters 20 miles (30 kilometers) from the coast.

But the sea's strong current washed them up on Galveston's beaches, before they were eventually burned in fires which lasted weeks.

Following the devastation, investors took their business inland to Houston -- which is now the fourth-largest city in the United States.

A seawall was built in Galveston shortly after -- but it did not fully protect the city from two other major hurricanes in 1963 and 1981.

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

117 years on the storm which destroyed galveston 117 years on the storm which destroyed galveston

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

117 years on the storm which destroyed galveston 117 years on the storm which destroyed galveston

 



GMT 10:06 2012 Saturday ,28 July

Querrey advances at ATP LA Open

GMT 21:15 2017 Thursday ,01 June

Trump condemns deadly Kabul explosion

GMT 02:15 2017 Thursday ,24 August

Is your country on the Qatar free entry list of 80?

GMT 19:48 2016 Monday ,03 October

Controversial boxing champ Tyson Fury retires

GMT 08:20 2015 Tuesday ,08 December

PC market woes show no sign of easing

GMT 17:27 2017 Tuesday ,25 April

20 Yemeni soldiers killed, injured in explosion

GMT 11:52 2017 Saturday ,30 December

OIC condemns Mar Mina Church attack

GMT 00:03 2017 Saturday ,25 March

Arab Meeting to Examine Anti-Corruption Methods

GMT 13:12 2017 Thursday ,20 April

Deputy premier meets Arab League chief

GMT 14:13 2014 Friday ,10 January

Opel Astra GTC

GMT 18:27 2016 Tuesday ,02 August

Turkish Foreign Minister arrives in Islamabad

GMT 11:27 2016 Tuesday ,13 December

Saudi woman arrested for challenging social norms

GMT 19:56 2017 Thursday ,09 March

Qatar Pavilion Opens at ITB Berlin

GMT 23:34 2013 Thursday ,07 February

New BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo

GMT 12:57 2017 Friday ,13 October

JPMorgan open to digital money if regulated

GMT 04:38 2017 Friday ,10 March

ADNOC opens fifth ADNOC Xpress

GMT 10:30 2017 Friday ,10 November

BDF military contingent honoured

GMT 17:37 2017 Tuesday ,24 January

China jails former Sinopec president for graft

GMT 19:34 2017 Sunday ,14 May

Austria centre-right calls for snap elections

GMT 14:54 2014 Saturday ,29 November

Wall cladding, wallpaper, fabric and wood!
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday