| Houston, Texas residents survived the deadliest | | | | Many heroes answered the call of duty after the |
| weather disaster in American history on August | | | | storm. Within one week the telegraph and water |
| 27, 1900 when a Category Four hurricane made | | | | services were working again, and new telephone |
| landfall just south of Galveston. Waves as high as | | | | lines were being laid by the second week. By |
| 15 feet destroyed the entire Galveston Island and | | | | week three saloons opened again, trolleys were |
| other surrounding coastal cities. The storm would | | | | moving, and cargo was moving through the |
| take 10,000 - 12,000 lives, and cost the 1900 | | | | harbor. Over the next decade parts of Galveston |
| equivalent of over $30,000,000 in damages from | | | | were rebuilt by literally raising the city as high as |
| Galveston to Houston. | | | | 17 feet in places to keep the Gulf of Mexico at |
| On August 27, the incredibly strong weather | | | | bay. By 1911 more than 500 city blocks were |
| system was detected over the Atlantic making | | | | raised and a seawall was in place though the wall |
| its way toward the Caribbean. Cuba was hit by | | | | would be worked on for another 60 years. |
| torrential rains on September 3. Then the system | | | | Immediately the residents of Texas went to |
| developed into a tropical storm and moved into | | | | work rebuilding, their cities, homes, and lives. They |
| the southern Gulf of Mexico on the 5th of | | | | were a true testament of the spirit of Texas and |
| September. The storm rapidly intensified as it | | | | its citizens. |
| continued a west-northwestward track toward | | | | Amazing how history repeats. On September 9, |
| Texas. By the time the storm reached the coast | | | | 2008 Hurricane Ike (also a Category Four) |
| of Texas just south of Galveston it was a | | | | slammed into Galveston and inflicted an estimated |
| Category Four hurricane with winds ranging from | | | | $29.6 billion in damage. Once again the die-hard |
| 131-155mph. | | | | Texas spirit was on display as the citizens, |
| After destroying much of Houston and killing | | | | businesses and governments of the affected |
| thousands of people the hurricane turned north | | | | areas pulled together to rebuild. Today Galveston |
| through the Great Plains. By September 11, 1900 | | | | is back on its feet and its tourism industry is |
| it was passing across the Great Lakes, New | | | | steadily rebuilding hotels, restaurants, and |
| England, and southeastern Canada, last spotted | | | | attractions in hopes to re-establish Galveston's |
| over the north Atlantic on September 15th. | | | | reputation as a vacation destination. |