Hurricane Ike generated a flood tide that extended about 165 miles from the Galveston area, where it made landfall. As a result, Port Aransas experienced moderate flooding along the beaches. The peak tide measured at Horace Caldwell Pier in Port Aransas was 5.37 feet above normal, which submerged many docks and bulkheads and flooded a few businesses and homes. Luckily, most homes and businesses, even those that were along the water, were spared.
Beaches in the Port Aransas areas were temporarily transformed by the flood tide generated by the hurricane. Waves eroded many of the dunes along the southern side of the island, widening what had previously been narrow beaches. The elevation of beaches along the northern edge of the island was raised. A surprising amount of garbage and debris was washed onto these beaches as well, a reminder of the considerable destruction inflicted by Ike on areas to the north.
The Port Aransas economy suffered temporarily, but more from anticipation of Hurricane Ike than actual storm damage. Most businesses closed down and boarded up because of predictions that Ike would hit Aransas head-on, and many would-be travelers canceled their plans to visit, even after the storm had passed. A handful of businesses did suffer flood damage and were forced to close down for repairs.
Because of its fortunate location on Mustang Island, which forms a protective barrier against the ocean, Port Aransas became a destination for many boaters fleeing the hurricane. More than 90 boats flocked to the Safe Harbor at Island Moorings Marina, coming from as far away as Freeport, Louisiana, to seek safety from the storm. The flurry of activity at the Safe Harbor drew renewed attention to the value of the location in times of crisis.
