The Galveston Hurricane of 1900: A Catastrophic Event in American History

Thankfully, my family and friends survived Hurricane Milton last night with minor damage. Not everyone was so lucky. With the recent spate of hurricanes in my home state of Florida, I did a little digging into hurricane history. Despite the additional factors of global warming and overbuilding on the coastal areas, the most significant hurricane disaster was not Andrew or Katrina but a no-name storm, The Great Storm” almost 125 years ago.

Galveston 1900

On September 8, 1900, one of the deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history struck the coastal city of Galveston, Texas. A powerful Category 4 hurricane made landfall, resulting in the loss of an estimated 6,000 to 12,000 lives and causing widespread devastation. Known as the “Great Galveston Hurricane,” the storm stands out not only because of its sheer destruction but also for the lessons it imparted on disaster preparedness, meteorology, and urban planning. The storm’s aftermath had far-reaching consequences, affecting the local community and the nation.

At the time, Galveston was a thriving port city, poised to become one of the most important commercial hubs in the United States. Its population was around 37,000, and it had become a center for trade, particularly cotton exports. Galveston was also known for its…