What is the deadliest hurricane to ever hit Texas? These 5 were the most destructive
Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida late Wednesday as a Category 3 storm.
Much of the Florida Gulf Coast saw heavy rainfall and destructive winds, including at the Tampa Bay Rays’ Tropicana Field, where portions of the roof were torn off. As of Thursday morning, over 3 million Floridians are without power, according to Power Outage US.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Milton is expected to exit Florida on Thursday morning and continue east into the Atlantic Ocean.
Florida is the singular state that’s been hit the most by hurricanes (over 120) since 1851, according to USA Today. Right behind the Sunshine State at number two in Texas, with over 60 hurricanes.
Here’s a look at five of the deadliest hurricanes in Texas history:
Galveston Hurricane
- When: Sept. 8, 1900
- Where: Galveston
- Death toll: 8,000
- Property damage costs: $20 million
The “Great Galveston Hurricane” devastated the city of 40,000 on Sept. 8, 1900.
When the storm rolled into town, winds were up to 140 mph, and storm surges were in excess of 15 feet, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Over 8,000 people died, 3,600 buildings were destroyed, and total damage costs exceeded $20 million.
The 1900 hurricane remains among the deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history, according to NOAA.
Hurricane Ike
- When: Sept. 13, 2008
- Where: Galveston
- Death toll: 100-plus
- Property damage costs: Nearly $30 billion
Hurricane Ike made landfall near Galveston on Sept. 13, 2008.
The storm killed over 100 people and caused nearly $30 billion in damage. Many deaths were attributed to residents hearing that Ike was merely a Category 2 storm, thus choosing not to evacuate, according to NOAA.
Hurricane Rita
- When: Sept. 24, 2005
- Where: Cameron Parish near Texas and Louisiana border
- Death toll: 120 (estimated)
- Property damage costs: $18.5 billion
Hurricane Rita made landfall as a Category 3 storm across the Cameron Parish on Sept. 24, 2005.
The storm sustained winds up to 115 mph, with storm surges up to 18 feet, according to the National Weather Service. Rita arrived in Louisiana just weeks after Hurricane Katrina arrived in late August.
In total, there were around 120 deaths and property damage costs at $18.5 billion, according to Louisiana State University.
Hurricane Harvey
- When: Aug. 25, 2017
- Where: Houston
- Death toll: 89
- Property damage costs: $158 billion
Hurricane Harvey made landfall near Rockport as a Category 4 storm on Aug. 25, 2017.
The storm sustained winds up to 130 mph and dumped over 50 inches of rain across Southeast Texas, according to NOAA. While Harvey made landfall in Rockport, the storm majorly impacted Houston.
Harvey killed 89 people and caused around $158 billion in damage.
Hurricane Carla
- When: Sept. 11, 1961
- Where: Port O’Connor, Texas
- Death toll: 43
- Property damage costs: $300 million
Hurricane Carla made landfall near Port O’Connor as a Category 4 storm on Sept. 11, 1961.
The storm sustained winds up to 145 mph upon landfall, according to NWS. Carla made its way up the state and eventually reached Fort Worth, where it had weakened to a tropical storm.
Carla killed 43 people and caused over $300 million in damages.
