Galveston is a long, narrow island off the coast of Texas. It has a long history of being hit by hurricanes and is still vulnerable. A large seawall was built to keep out the storm surge because the island was only 9 feet above sea level at its highest point. It is a major population and industrial center to the south of Houston, and after many times being hit by powerful hurricanes, still strives to maintain itself as a bustling coastal city.
The hurricane that hit Galveston in 1900 is still the biggest natural disaster in the United States, killing at least 6,000 people and destroying most of the city.
After the 1900 hurricane, a 10.4-mile-long, 17-foot-high seawall was built starting in 1902, which raised the height of the city and protected it during hurricanes in 1909, 1932, 1961 and 1983.
Hurricane Ike hit Galveston on Sept. 13, 2008, with winds near 110 mph and caused damage estimated in the tens of billions of dollars to homes, businesses and industries.
Damage from Hurricane Ike includes disaster declarations in 29 counties that include 26 percent of Texas businesses, with petrochemical, shipping port and waterway infrastructure heavily damaged.
Isaac M. Cline was a senior Weather Bureau employee who lost his wife and house in the 1900 hurricane, but documented his experience with the storm, which would later be featured in a book.
