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The Atlantic Hurricane season starts June 1 and runs until November 30. Storms can develop quickly in warm gulf waters, so begin storm preparations early. Recent seasons have demonstrated the devastation hurricanes can bring to coastal areas, but as Tropical Storm Allison demonstrated a few years ago, a major storm is not required to create high levels of property damage and flooding.

Forecasting and Measuring Hurricane Force Winds

National Hurricane Center Storm Glossary

Learn important storm terms before a storm threatens. Improve your hurricane IQ by reviewing the National Hurricane Center Storm Glossary

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Improvements in forecasting technology since the early 1900’s have saved countless lives. Beginning early in the 20th century, after 8,000 lives were lost in the Galveston Storm of 1900, scientists worked to develop better storm forecasting models. Collecting new data each hurricane season, forecasters have developed extensive knowledge in storm predictability. Increased computer power, global positioning satellites, wind & wave forecasts for 24-, 48-, and 72-hour increments, satellite imagery, weather radar, and aircraft reconnaissance are mainstays of 21st century technology.

The oldest method of judging wind force is the Beaufort Scale, proposed in 1806 by Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort, which categorized winds into 13 divisions, from the “calm” B0 category (<1 mph) to the “hurricane” B12 category (>74 mph). The subsequent Fujita (or Fujita-Pearson) Scale for judging tornado wind force was proposed in 1971 by T. Theodore Fujita and Allen Pearson, and measured tornadic force winds from F0 (49-72 mph) to F5 (261-318 mph)

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Classification

• Tropical Disturbance — combined area of tropical thunderstorms lasting more than 24 hours.
• Tropical Wave — tropical water flow distortions forming low pressure trough.
• Tropical Depression — organized system with wind speeds between 30 and 40 mph.
• Tropical Storm — distinct rotary circulation with wind speeds between 40 and 73 mph.
• Category 1 Hurricane — 74-95 mph winds.
• Category 2 Hurricane — 96-110 mph winds.
• Category 3 Hurricane — 111-130 mph winds.
• Category 4 Hurricane — 131-155 mph winds.
• Category 5 Hurricane — 155+ mph winds.
  

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale (chart at left) was developed in the 70’s by Herbert Saffir (then-assistant county engineer in Dade County, Florida) and Bob Simpson (then-director of the National Hurricane Center) to gauge potential flooding and damage upon hurricane landfall. In a UN-commissioned study on low-cost housing in hurricane-prone areas throughout the world, Saffir devised a 1-5 scale measuring structural damage resulting from wind speed (modeling the Richter magnitude earthquake scale). Upon receipt by the NHC, Simpson added information on the effects of storm surge and flooding, finalizing the Scale as it is used today.

Planning, Tracking & Evacuation Resources

Plan your family emergency procedures ahead of time. Identify options for a place to stay: out-of-town friends or family, motel, or shelter. Plan for pet care because many shelters will not take pets. Identify exterior home decorations, plants, or garden furniture to be stored under cover before you evacuate. Review hurricane supply lists for important items to keep on hand for food, supplies, and first aid. Keep your vehicle fueled with at least half a tank. Shop early since many essential items, such as water, gas, batteries and plywood, disappear quickly from suppliers when storm bulletins are issued.

Track any storm with potential to impact your area by map and by radio. Hurricane tracking maps are available online as well as through local news stations during the active storm season. National Weather Radio (NWR) broadcasts national weather warnings, watches, forecasts and other information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in conjunction with the FCC’s Emergency Alert System. The public service information broadcast covers all 50 states—including the surrounding coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Pacific Territories.

Red Cross Emergency Radio

The American Red Cross FR250 Radio from Eton Corp is an AM/FM/Shortwave radio with flashlight, siren, and cell phone charger. Batteries are not required — a hand crank provides the power. Several models are available online where you can also download the American Red Cross Preparedness Guide.

Weather radios, available from $25 to more than $100, are invaluable during preparations for a coming storm. Look for special features, such as an alarm tone (allows the radio to operate in “quiet” mode while listening for the “warning” broadcast tone), an output connector (activates a visual or motion alerting system for the hearing-impaired), or a wind-up generator (powers a rechargeable battery).

In planning to evacuate, use sound judgment based on available information and directives from the state and county officials. Texas evacuation routes were overhauled following the hard lessons learned during Hurricane Rita’s 2005 evacuation. Harris County Homeland Security & Emergency Management Office offers specific highway evacuation route and contraflow lane maps available for I-10 West, Hwy 290 West, I-45 North, and Hwy 59 North. Texas coastal county evacuation maps are also available as tri-fold brochures and online PDF documents from State of Texas and Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT). In addition to the 9-1-1 Emergency number, evacuees can call 2-1-1 for information on evacuation routes, shelters and special needs transportation.

Hurricane Information & News Sources

• Hurricane Advisory Sources
  News by telephone (305) 229-4483
  News by radio fax — TAFB Radiofax Broadcast Schedule
  News by WAP capable cellphones — NHC Mobile Products
  News by email — NHC Advisory Mailing Lists
  News by RSS feeds — NHC Advisory RSS Feeds
  



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• Hurricane Tracking Sites & Maps
  Weather Underground Tropical Weather Advisories
  National Hurricane Center Tropical Weather Advisories
  NOAA’s Atlantic tracking map
  Carribean Wind Arts mailorder laminated tracking map



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• Houston & SE Texas Evacuation Maps
  National Weather Services Houston & Galveston Evacuation Maps
  Texas State Emergency Evacuation Maps
  Harris County Contra-flow Evacuation Routes
  



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• Hurricane Supply & First Aid Kits
  NOAA Disaster Supply Kit
  Sun Sentinel First Aid Kit
  Donald Burger’s Houston Hurricane Supply List
  



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• Emergency & Weather Radio Merchants
  CCrane Radio & Electronics
  Weather Radio Store
  WeatherShack Electronics

Insurance: Before and After the Storm

Insurance preparedness is a Spring-time task. When a hurricane watch or warning is issued by the National Weather Service, insurance policy-writing is suspended until 48 hours after the watch or warning is lifted. Note that flood insurance has a 30-day waiting period after application to become effective — and it must be effective before a storm bulletin is issued to offer coverage. Also, windstorm/hail policies require property inspections following building, renovating, or adding on to insurable structures.

5 Pre-season Insurance Planning Tips

• Review your policy and verfiy your coverage levels and deductibles with your insurance agent
• Maintain a digital or photographic inventory of your home and personal property — store a duplicate with a friend or relative in another city or state.
• Maintain a file of receipts and documentation for home purchases and personal property.
• Prepare a traveling file with important papers and insurance documentation if you are subject to an evacuation order.
• Make plans before a storm threatens to protect your family, home and property.

There are three basic types of insurance coverage providing protection from storm damage. Homeowners/Liability Insurance is the basic home insurance covering your home and its contents. For inland properties, it may also cover windstorm and hail damage. Coverage is normally provided for water damage from broken water pipes, but not for flood damage from rising water. Windstorm/Hail Insurance is a separate policy required in the 15 Texas coastal counties where hurricane strike percentages are higher and damage more likely. Flood Insurance, like windstorm/hail, is required by federally-regulated lenders for homes located in coastal areas, and other inland areas, identified as flood-prone on FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Your Texas community must participate in the NFIP for you to be eligible for the federally-backed insurance coverage. Coverage is provided for rising water and storm surge damage from tropical storms and hurricanes, as well as damage from dam or levee failure, or inadequate drainage during heavy rains and melting snow.

Before the storm, read your insurance policy to know the basics, and review your coverage and deductible levels to make sure your property is sufficiently covered. Prepare a traveling file of important insurance policies, documents, receipts, or records ready to evacuate. A detailed inventory, photographs or video of your property is helpful. Prepare the exterior of your home for the storm by securing or storing all items which could become flying debris in high winds.

After the storm, if your home was lightly damaged, consider handling small losses yourself. Texas insurers cannot drop policies because of weather-related claims, but claims can affect coverage. Three non-weather-related claims within three years may affect renewal status. Otherwise, report all damage to your insurance company promptly. Be sure to write down and date the details of all phone conversations. Photograph damages and keep receipts of your expenditures. Ask your claims adjuster about provisions for emergency repairs or temporary living expenses. Compare the information from the claims adjuster to your policy to ensure you receive the full benefits of your coverage.

For catastrophic damage, contact the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) which organizes the coordinated state response following a disaster through the Texas State Disaster Coalition, and offers a Special Disaster Line (800-852-5246). Also get a copy of the TDI’s Consumer Bill of Rights . The TDI offers a consumer helpline at 1-800-252-3439.

Find out if FEMA has declared your area a disaster, and get information on FEMA’s process to apply for assistance.

Be cautious of disreputable people who work the victims of a disaster, especially those who contact you first; either door-to-door or by telephone. Check licenses and references. It’s prudent to work with licensed insurance adjusters, contractors, roofers, plumbers, electricians, or other professionals. The Federal Trade Commission (877-FTC-HELP) offers a consumer alert booklet with helpful information on precautions to take when repairing your home after a disaster.

5 Important Pre-season Hurricane Planning Tips

Make an evacuation plan for your family (and pets).
Your plan should include at least one pre-planned out-of-town destination (with family or friends, or a known hotel), and also an alternate place to meet up with family members (if getting all family members home before evacuation is not feasible).

Prepare a photographic inventory of your possessions (on CD-ROM, if possible) for insurance purposes. Ideally, it should include a supporting list of brand names, model numbers, serial numbers, etc. Begin with the most expensive or irreplaceable items, if time is of the essence.

Hurricane Supply Checklist

Experts suggest a good home hurricane supply list will prepare you with the basics necessary for 5 days to 2 weeks following a storm.

Whether remaining in your home, seeking emergency shelter, or evacuating following a mandatory order, plan ahead using this printable hurricane supply checklist.

View the document

Collect important papers and insurance documents for safekeeping during a storm, or possible evacuation. This would include your photographic inventory. Include vital documents (i.e., birth certificates), insurance policies (i.e., auto, home, health, life, property), original legal documents (i.e., Wills, Trusts, Mortgage). Expand the list for your own circumstances, but keep the collection small enough to travel (i.e., one storage box).

Make a plan to protect your property. Evaluate your insurance coverage early to ensure you’re covered for liability, windstorm/hail, and flood damage. Also, take a good look at your home and its exterior. What items have to be secured or stored before a storm hits? Are there windows to be covered with plywood? Are sandbags needed? Will your plan change if you ride out the storm at home versus evacuation? How many hours will it take to secure all items and complete preparations? These preparations and decisions are best made prior to the time a critical storm enters the Gulf of Mexico. Otherwise, decision-making time is limited to only a few days, and your preparations may be hindered by thousands of your neighbors making the same last minute decisions for their own homes.

Prepare your basic “travel-size” disaster supply kit and first aid kit to keep on hand for the entire hurricane season. Once compiled, it will be available for subsequent hurricane seasons, with minimal effort to update or restock. If you are inclined to be better prepared than most, prepare your “stay-at-home” disaster supply kit with those items recommended for riding out the storm and one-week recovery period. First gather those items requiring more time or energy to find (i.e., tools, lanterns); then gather easily obtainable items (i.e., perishable goods, household goods).

Portable Generator Safety Precautions

• Properly size your generator — consult the manufacturer specs to determine power requirements for each appliance.
• Unless installed by an electrician, your portable generator should be isolated from your home’s electrical system.
• Portable generators produce carbon-monoxide — never operate your portable generator indoors.
• Do not operate your generator near flammable items — proper ventilation is required for proper operation and cooling.
• Never refuel a running or hot generator — allow the unit to cool down before refuelling.

Portable Generator Safety

Portable generators, ranging in price from $800 to $3500, have become popular options in recent years to supply emergency power following natural disasters. Major manufacturers, such as Honda, Mitsibushi, Yamaha, Onan, Porter Cable, Dewalt, Yanmar, Briggs & Stratton, and others, have tapped into the market of hurricane-weary homeowners living in coastal states. Shop wisely; bargain generators generally fail when you need them most.

Unless professionally installed to run your entire home’s electrical system (independent of your electric power supplier), you should only plug appliances directly into a properly grounded generator. Consult manufacturer guidelines and your local electric company for important details such as “feedback” through electric lines. Equipment operating on a generator MUST be isolated from your home’s electric supply. Be sure your chosen generator is big enough to carry the electric load you expect to need. Remember, 1 kW = 1,000 watts. Know the wattage of the appliances you expect to run, and never exceed your generator’s capacity.

Generators produce carbon monoxide and should never be operated indoors —- deadly gases can build up quickly, threatening your family’s safety. Place the unit outdoors on a hard surface, keeping it away from flammable items. Running units generate lots of heat and require good ventilation for proper operation. Before refueling, generators should be turned off and cooled down — never running or hot. When deciding where to place your generator, remember to plan for the noise level they produce when running.

NHC Hurricane Names

Since 1953, the World Meteorological Organization has maintained and updated the list of storm names used to identify storms. Initiated by the National Hurricane Center to ease the exchange of storm data and other communications about a particular storm, after many years of identification by date, location, latitude and longitude lines, the NHC found the use of short, distinct names quick and less subject to error.

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Memorable Hurricanes

The Great Hurricane of 1780 caused the greatest recorded loss of life from a tropical cyclone. The Galveston Storm of 1900 recorded the second highest loss of life. Here’s a look back at these and other memorable storms that changed the way we live. Selected data extracted from appendices compiled by the National Weather Service.

Of the deadliest Atlantic tropical cyclones recorded between 1492 and 1996, the National Hurricane Center’s historical rendering lists 12 unnamed tropical cyclones occurring in the 1500’s, as early as 1502. One of those storms struck the upper Texas Coast in 1527. Between 1818 and 1885, the Red River Authority in Wichita Falls, Texas, recalls at least 28 storms striking the Texas coast, and an additional 66 storms, the majority of which were hurricane force, between 1885 and 1964.

1780 October – The Great Hurricane
The largest loss of life from a tropical cyclone occurred in the Lesser Antilles in mid-October 1780, during The Great Hurricane. Estimates indicate that around 22,000 deaths occurred in that storm, with a total of about 9,000 lives lost in Martinique, 4,000-5,000 in St. Eustatius, and 4,326 in Barbados. Thousands of deaths also occurred offshore. According to their records, the number of fatalities during The Great Hurricane of 1780 exceeds the cumulative loss in any other year and, in fact, in all other decades.

This storm, and many of the following storms, are listed on one or more of NOAA’s ranked lists of (1) the 30 Deadliest U.S. Tropical Cyclones 1900-2000, (2) the 65 Most Intense U.S. Tropical Cyclones 1900-2000, and (3) the 30 Costliest U.S. Hurricanes 1900-2000. Most data available today through NOAA stems from documentation in the private sector; newspaper articles, insurance reports, and eyewitness accounts.

1900 September – (unnamed) Galveston, Texas (Category 4)
Texas maintains the unenviable history of sustaining the second deadliest tropical cyclone recorded in the world between 1900 and present day; the Galveston Storm of September 1900. It is known as the worst natural disaster in United States history. An estimated 6000 to 8000 people perished in the storm and the extensive flooding it caused. Many books and pictorials have been published as a testament to its effect. Further historical information and photographs can also be found at www.1900storm.com.

1909 July – (unnamed) Velasco, Texas (Category 3)
This hurricane entered the Caribbean in mid-July of 1909, and made landfall on the Texas coast on July 21st near Velasco, Texas. The calm of the eye took 45 minutes to pass and, when it did, the resulting winds destroyed half the town. Estimates put the storm surge as high as 20 feet (10 feet in Galveston), 41 souls lost in Velasco and Galveston, and two million dollars in property damage.

1915 August – (unnamed) Galveston, Texas (Category 4)
The 10th deadliest storm of the century pounded the new seawall at Galveston, Texas, which was built to protect the residents after the 1900 storm. Storm tides, 12 feet above normal, put Galveston’s business district 6 feet under water. Although an estimated 275 souls were lost to high water and strong winds, the new seawall had done its job.

1916 August – (unnamed) Corpus Christi, Texas (Category 3)
In 1916, although the nation was experiencing a national depression, Corpus Christi’s economy was booming. The 1916 hurricane struck a blow to the city, bringing winds of 100 mph and tides almost 6 feet above normal, causing major damage to its waterfront business, and severe damage to the city’s new Nueces Bay causeway. Although records of the actual rainfall were unreliable, it was reportedly less than 2 inches. Despite the damage, Corpus Christi residents believed that the sand islands stretching along the Texas coastline provided a barrier protection to the city from dangerous hurricanes. This false sense of security, heightened because the 1916 storm advanced on the city quickly without time to build up a great deal of water, was a conventional wisdom that would be destroyed only 3 years later.

1919 September – (unnamed) Corpus Christi, Texas (Category 4)
Listed on both NOAA’s “Most Intense” and “30 Deadliest” lists, the 1919 storm devastated Corpus Christi. The city rebuilt quickly after the 1916 storm, and a new tourism boom bolstered the economy. With storm tides at 16 feet above normal and wind gusts nearing 170 mph, the loss of life estimates range from 287 to over 600 persons, with property damaged calculated at over $20 million. According to NOAA historical information, one of the hurricane’s more interesting landmarks remains today—-an oak tree adjacent to the Fulton Mansion State Historic Site which still contains remnants of the Fulton Mansion Windmill fan blades, torn off during the height of the storm and embedded in the tree to such an extent that removing them would have killed the tree.

According to the Corpus Christi Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers, study in 1919 of both the 1916 and 1919 storms’ tidal impact on the city had far reaching effects on Corpus Christi’s future development and design standards for building future roadways.

1932 August – (unnamed) Velasco (Freeport) Texas (Category 4)
Though relatively small in diameter, this intense hurricane left 40 people dead, an estimated 600 families homeless, and caused $7.5 million in property damage when it made landfall between Freeport and Galveston, Texas.

1933 September – (unnamed) Brownsville, Texas (Category 3)
Also listed on both NOAA’s “Most Intense” and “30 Deadliest” lists, this storm pummeled the lower Rio Grande Valley’s residents and citrus crop; killing 40, injuring 500, and registering winds of 106 MPH before the city’s anemometer blew away.

1941 September – (unnamed) Freeport, Texas (Category 3)
Although this storm intensified to Category 3 for only a brief time before making landfall on the Texas coast, it left its mark with estimated winds of 110 mph and high tides of nearly 11 feet. The storm weakened quickly upon landfall to a Category 1, and only 4 Texas lives were recorded lost. It was a memorable storm for its staying power as it howled its way through northeast Texas, through the Mississippi Valley and up into the Great Lakes region of Michigan, traveling over 1,000 miles, maintaining gale force winds of 56 to 75 mph, and reeking havoc in the Detroit River area.

1942 August – (unnamed) Galveston, Texas (Category 3)
World War II headlines impeded news reports to local citizens of a relatively small-sized, short-lived storm which made landfall on Bolivar Peninsula on August 21st. Although 72 mph winds and tides 7 feet above normal caused damage to wharfs, small vessels, and crops, there were no people reported injured during this first storm and damage was less than $1 million. But just over one week later, Matagorda Bay and the Galveston area were struck yet again with a much larger, 150-mile diameter, Category 3 storm. About 50,000 people fled the 115 mph winds and 14 foot tides of this second storm, which put Galveston under about 6 feet of water. The storm moved through the area quickly, dropping close to 10 inches of rain. Damage estimates to property and crops for this second storm neared $26.5 million and reported at least 8 residents who lost their lives.

1943 July – (unnamed) Galveston, Texas
The Galveston Daily News called it the “Mystery Storm” and the “Worst Blow Since 1915.” Once more, the Galveston public was not made fully aware of the impending hurricane. World War II and suspicions of German U-boats hiding in the Gulf of Mexico caused news of the time to be censored, and all ship broadcasts were quiet. This despite the fact that hurricane weather reports at the time were almost exclusively funneled to the Weather Bureau from ships at sea. Storm impact, however, was not a mystery. It was severe, killing 17 and causing $17 million in damages to homes and buildings such as the Wallis Landes Building, located then at 2411 The Strand. The building lost its two top floors to the storm, but the building’s first floor still stands. The storm swept across Galveston Bay, directly into Houston. According to NOAA, this storm also has the historical distinction of the first documented intentional plane flight into a hurricane. The storm was traced as it moved from Galveston Bay into Houston. Hard data measurements of winds, rain, tides, and flooding on this storm are lacking however, perhaps because of WWII news censorship.

1957 June – AUDREY (Category 4)
Hurricane AUDREY swept up the Louisiana-Texas border, taking 9 lives and injuring at least 450 more people. Its deadly tidal surge and 30 foot waves changed the lives of the residents who stood in its path, for nothing in their lifetimes had prepared them for a storm of this magnitude. East Texas counties suffered property damages of $8 million. But it was the west parishes of Louisiana, especially Cameron Parish, which were hardest hit, losing 425 people, of which 154 were children. Nola Mae Wittler Ross and Susan McFillen Goodson wrote the book “Hurricane Audrey” in 1996 as a memorial for those lost and a testament to the survivors.

1961 September – CARLA (Category 4)
Hurricane CARLA is listed on NOAA’s “Most Intense,” “30 Deadliest,” and “30 Costliest” lists of recorded Atlantic hurricanes. It is reputed to be the largest hurricane of record to hit the Texas coast, registering estimated 175 mph winds at Port Lavaca. Property and crop damages were a reported $300 million, with the Corpus Christi and Port Arthur areas sustaining the heaviest damage. A massive evacuation of 250,000 persons kept the storm casualties to 34 killed and 465 injured.

1967 September – BEULAH (Category 3)
This storm struck the Port Isabel and Brownsville area in the early morning hours with 140 mph winds. Evacuations of 300,000 people again kept casualties minimal, but property damage throughout South Texas, the Padre Island resort area, and the lower Rio Grande Valley was extensive, especially to the Rio Grande citrus crop and the shrimp fleet in the Port of Brownsville. Tornados from the storm, as many as 115 recorded, reached as far north as Austin. Up to 30 inches of rain kept South Texas flooded for better than 2 weeks.

1970 August – CELIA (Category 3)
Corpus Christi and surrounding areas were again hit hard in 1970 by a storm that all but snuck up on Texas. Early reports classified CELIA as a relatively mild storm, and the weather was deceptively calm as the storm approached. The storm eye passed just north of Corpus Christi, and then zigzagged over a succession of cities and towns, in several different directions, spreading her unanticipated destruction. Winds of 160 to 180 mph did most of the storm’s damage of over $600 million, reportedly Texas’ most costly hurricane. CELIA’s rainfall was particularly light, with only 6.38 inches in Corpus Christi, and some towns experiencing no rainfall at all.

1980 August – ALLEN (Category 3)
Padre Island and Corpus Christi suffered the worst effects of ALLEN in 1980. Over 20 inches of rain was recorded and some 250,000 South Texas residents were evacuated. Only 3 people were reported casualties of the storm, which was extremely fortunate considering the 29 tornados which occurred.

1983 August – ALICIA (Category 3)
ALICIA formed quickly off the Louisiana coast, giving very little warning when it made landfall on the west end of Galveston Island on August 18th. The Galveston and Houston areas were pounded by as many as 32 tornados, 115 to 130 mph winds, and 5 to 11 inches of rain. Evacuation orders came too late for Galveston and Houston residents, who rode the storm out as best they could. Galveston beaches were hard hit, and some residents lost their homes to the state as a result of attrition to the natural vegetation line marking the public beach boundary. Houston lost innumerable trees to the storm due to the softened, rain-soaked ground from the previous week’s weather. Glass on Downtown Houston buildings was ravaged by debris strewn by the tornadic winds. As many as 21 people were killed, and 3,000 injured as a result of the storm. Damage estimates were $2 billion, setting a Texas record.

1988 September – GILBERT (Category 3)
Hurricane GILBERT was monstrous storm which devastated Jamaica with 115 mph winds as a Category 3 storm, then increased in strength and pounded the Cayman Islands with 140 mph winds as a Category 4 storm, and then increased once again to a Category 5 storm before striking Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula with 175 mph winds. The storm diameter was bigger than the state of Texas as it approached the mainland, broke the rainfall record of 26.35 inches set in 1935, and set a Western Hemisphere record for the lowest sea level pressure (888 Mb). GILBERT thankfully lost intensity to a Category 3 storm before it made landfall over South Texas, but heavy rains and tornados took their toll on the state.

1999 August – BRET (Category 3)
Hurricane BRET broke a nine-year run without a hurricane strike on the Texas coast. Two Category 1 hurricanes made landfall in 1989 on the upper Texas coast without major effect. Ten years later, BRET once again reminded Texas of the dangers of coastal living. Its landfall in largely unpopulated counties, between Corpus Christi and Brownsville, kept property damages to a relatively minor $15 million, and caused no reported fatalities.

2001 June – ALLISON (Tropical Storm)
June 2001 was not the first time a tropical storm named ALLISON made landfall on the Texas coast (previously, June 1989), but it was definitely the last time. Because of the devastating effects of its 9-day deluge of rain, the storm name was “retired” from the Atlantic list by the World Meteorological Organization. It marked the WMO’s first decision to retire a “tropical storm” name from any of the 11 worldwide regions. Such distinction is historically reserved for major hurricanes.

TS ALLISON in 2001 was a record-breaker for the Houston/Galveston Area. ALLISON currently holds Houston/Galveston’s “costliest storm” record at nearly $5 billion, and in the Atlantic Region, only Hurricanes HUGO and ANDREW exceed its damage record. Nearly 37 inches of rain were dumped over the area as the storm stalled over the city of Houston. Widespread flooding took 22 lives, changed thousands of others, and forced Houston to re-think many elements of its city’s basic structure.

The 2005 Hurricane Season: Katrina & Rita
Twenty-seven—the record number of named storms making up the 2005 hurricane season. Fifteen—the record number of hurricanes which threatened the U.S. in 2005. Eight—the number of hurricanes (6) and tropical storms (2) which directly impacted the U.S. in 2005. Four—the record number of Category 5 storms occurring in 2005 (EMILY, KATRINA, RITA and WILMA). When Hurricane WILMA used up the 21st name on the 2005 Atlantic list, Greek letters were employed for the first time since storm-naming began in 1953. NOAA forecasters predict that atmosphere and water temperature patterns will continue the trend of active, destructive hurricane seasons for the coming years.

For ten days (Aug. 23—Sept. 1, 2005), Hurricane KATRINA plowed its path through the Gulf of Mexico and US Gulf Coast. August 29th forever altered the future of historic New Orleans, and wiped communities off the map in Louisiana and Mississippi with devastation both physical and economical. KATRINA displayed record low barometric air pressure at 902 millibars for Atlantic hurricanes, and dumped over 15 inches of rain each in South Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Loss of life from Mississippi to Kentucky stands over 1800, with 85% of casualties recorded in Louisiana where evacuation efforts came too late for residents who chose to remain. KATRINA will likely hold the record in total devastation to the U.S. for many years to come even as rebuilding and relief efforts continue years later.

The shock of KATRINA’s effect had not begun to dim when Hurricane RITA formed in the Atlantic less than 3 weeks later. Hurricane RITA (Sept. 17—26, 2005) intensified from Category 2 to 5 in less than 24 hours on Sept. 20th , displayed peak winds of 175 mph, and knocked KATRINA’s record-setting barometric pressure down the chart with its own 897 millibars. Memories of KATRINA-impacted New Orleans residents spurred record numbers of Gulf Coast-area residents to evacuate north in the face of RITA. Harris County roadways were gridlocked for over 48 pre-storm hours with the largest U.S. evacuation to date as 3 million people fled coastal areas. The East Texas/Louisiana border took the brunt of a Category 3 landfall, wiping the coastline bare of buildings, trees, and roadways. The death toll is recorded at 120. Seven deaths were directly storm-related. The remainder were caused indirectly by the evacuation, the 100 degree heat, accidents, fires, and crime.

2007 September – HUMBERTO (Category 1)
Both the 2006 and 2007 storm seasons paled in comparison with the 2005 storm legacies still facing Gulf Coast residents. Meriting singular distinction for the Texas coastline was HUMBERTO, which formed and intensified in a record-breaking 18 hours prior to landfall on September 13, 2007, at High Island, Texas. Sustained winds during the short-lived storm were 85 to 90 mph, and damage estimates of about $50 million were centered on homes and property in Orange, Jefferson and Galveston Counties. Only one death was attributed directly to the storm.