Galveston Storm of 1900

Galveston Storm of 1900. . The worst recorded natural disaster ever to strike North America occurred on September 8, 1900, at Galveston Island. A hurricane which had first been observed 125 miles northwest of Martinique, strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico waters after passing over Cuba. Poor communications and lack of equipment to monitor storms resulted in little warning for the residents of the Texas Gulf Coast. Few of Galveston's 38,000 residents had evacuated the city before the bridges to the mainland fell. , Because of the resulting storm surge, which reached a depth of fifteen feet in parts of the city, an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 people in Galveston lost their lives. High winds and high water destroyed one third of the city, including 2,636 houses and 1,500 acres of shoreline. Property damage was estimated to be between 20 and 30 million dollars at that time. The 1900 Storm remains recorded as our nation's worst natural disaster. , In the succeeding years, Galvestonians witnessed the construction of a six-mile long seawall, seventeen feet above mean low tide. Sand was pumped from the Gulf floor and Offatts Bayou to raise the grade throughout the city. The seawall and grade raising have served to protect Galveston from disastrous flooding as other storms have hit the upper Texas coast. The Island's survival is a tribute to the spirit of its citizens. , Texas Firsts. . The first post office, with Peter J. Menard as the postmaster opened in Galveston in 1836. , . The first custom house, with Gail Borden as Collector of the Port, was established in Galveston in 1836. The same Gail Borden invented condensed milk. , . Texas' oldest military company was chartered in 1841, and is now known as the Galveston Artillery Company. , . The Texas Navy was established at Galveston. The fleet's vessels “Stephen F. Austin”, the brig “Wharton”, and the stoop “San Antonio”, were in port in 1841. , . In 1842, the oldest newspaper now surviving in Texas was established at the Galveston Daily News.