With hurricane Harvey increasing in strength as it nears the Texas coast, a lot of people are wondering if the Seawall will protect Galveston Island.
The residents & business owners in Galveston are hoping it does!
The Seawall was built by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1902 after the most deadly hurricane in United States’ history struck the area in September of 1900. With a record loss of somewhere between 6000 & 11,000 lives and the complete destruction of over 3600 homes, it caught the coast of Texas off guard. The storm was considered a category 4. At one point Galveston Texas was under 15′ of sea water.
The Seawall was constructed 17′ high and the base was made 16′ wide and tapered at top. The first Seawall was only about 3.3 miles long. Over the next 60 years, it was extended to more than 10 miles long.
Although the Seawall in Galveston was built as functional protection from storm surge, it also has provided recreational enjoyment. Visitors and tourist have long enjoyed walking the length of the Seawall, parking on it to access the beach, and fishing from its rocky bottom.
Since the historical event in 1900, Galveston has survived several other natural disasters.
- June 26, 1902 – Tropical storm smacked Galveston bringing a twister that knocked a freight train off its tracks.
- July 21, 1908 – Tropical storm came inland and derailed many train cars. Storm swells were at 10′ but the Seawall held tight. No lives were lost behind the Seawall, but 5 fatalities were reported on the outside
- August 27, 1909 – Storm surge was only 3′ and the Seawall held.
- June 27, 1913 – Tropical storm surge created 12.7′ waves. The Seawall saved Galveston.
- August 16, 1915 – This storm was rumoured to have been a rival to the Great Tropical Storm of 1900. This time the 12′ storm surge came over the Seawall. The downtown area swam in 5-6′ of sea water. All beach front bath houses were washed away. There were 12 fatalities and 1 of which was behind the Seawall.
- September 14, 1919 – Sea swells at 8′ 8″…this storm wrecked Corpus Christi harder than Galveston.
- August 14, 1932 – The Seawall saved Galveston from another tropical storm.
- 1933 – This year saw 5 tropical storms in the gulf.
- September 23, 1941 – Galveston measured 7′ tides and all rice crops were ruined.
- August 29, 1942 – Over 50,000 people stumbled over each other to flee Galveston as this storm approached due to a hurricane that struck just 8 days before. Galveston survived.
- July 27, 1943 – Big hurricane! Winds of over 100 mph knocked brick buildings over and churches collapsed. Northerly winds across Galveston’s bay kept tides low. Storm surge was 6′ feet. There were 11 casualties. Galveston survived.
- August 24, 1947 – Hurricane with sea water storm surge of less than 4′.
- October 3, 1949 – Tropical storm was mild for Galveston only moderately damaging streets.
In 1950, the US military began naming storms and hurricanes. By 1954 the public was beginning to be made aware of storm names. There have been a great number of storms affect Galveston since 1950. Rather than listing them all for you I recommend you go here to further your research. It’s where a lot of my data came from on the historical storms listed in this article.
So, after all this time, will the Seawall protect Galveston? Hurricane Harvey was just upgraded to a category 4 hurricane. Please keep Texas in your prayers!
I feel so sad as a result of everything that has gone there. My thoughts and prayers go out to the people that are having to be there.
Never underestimate the power of prayer! Keep praying.
My heart goes out to the people in Texas. I hope it will all be over soon.
Me too. I was completely shattered by the photo they showed on the news with the elderly ladies at a retirement home just sitting in the water that came on around them.
I have a few friends who recently move to Texas an the whole state has been my prayers.
Great. Prayer is a powerful thing!
My heart goes out with everyone that has to go through this. It sadden me when I have to see things like this.
My prayers go out to all the people in Texas. And I hope that the sea wall in Galveston is strong enough.
Thank you for praying!
This just makes me so worried for those in the vicinity. I am definitely praying!
Prayer is the best any of us can offer.
Prayers are with you guys, even if we are very far away. I hope the needy are served to the best.
Gayathri @ Musings Over Nothing
Me too.
Stay safe! My thoughts are with Texans. Hope it will be over soon with no serious damages.
There’s much damage unfortunately 🙁
I’ve been so worried about this. Having experienced tropical storms and hurricanes in my life, as I am originally from Costa Rica, I know how scary and devastating they can be. Sending lots of love and positive thoughts.
Do you offer any suggestions for the flooding?
Thinking of everyone in the path of Harvey. Hope the seawall holds and the flooding dissipates quickly.
Yes, for sure! The flooding is do heavy it will probably set a new record.
I hope that everything is okay in Galveston. I know that Port Aranas wasn’t as lucky. My sister lives near Aranas Pass and doesn’t low the condition of their home yet. She is up here while her husband stayed back to work (first responder).
Oh goodness. I hope he’s okay.
The devastation from Harvey is unfathomable. Seeing the clips and photos on television make me sick to my stomach. it is frightening and I can not imagine dealing with that water everywhere.
Yes! Water everywhere & an abundance of snakes and other wildlife that is not normally native to the “cities”.
My brother just bought a home two months ago in Portland. They are right by the water and he ended up leaving with his wife and two young children back home to my parents house in Arizona. They currently don’t know the status of their home and I just feel so awful for everyone with the future unknown.
The uncertainty can be unsettling. Just keep them all in your prayers.
I’ve been following the coverage of Texas flooding today, and I feel so bad for the families caught in flooding where it came as such a surprise. It is really inspiring to see the communities helping one another out.
I agree. Texans are amazing at helping each other. They are very united during crisis!
I’ve been watching the hurricane coverage on the news and it breaks my heart to see what is happening in Texas. Praying for all those affected.
Thank you for praying! It’s what all Texans need badly.
I hope the Seawall protects Galveston. Such devastation from this Hurricane. All we can do is pray that everything will turn out right.
Correct. Prayer is the best any of us can offer!
Yikes praying everyone gets out safe…i was born and raised there the first half of my life and have tons of friends there !
I hope your friends are all okay!
I will definitely keep it in my prayers! What a scary time, I hope everyone stays safe.
Me too. I am praying for everyone’s safety!
Stay safe! I am praying for your safety as well. It’s really all about being prepared and knowing what to do in case something comes up.
Noone can be prepared for a freak flooding event.
I have definitely heard about this in the news this week! Hope you had minimal damage with this storm! So scary!
I think the flooding is the biggest threat now.
I know a lot of people in Texas who could potentially be affected by Hurricane Harvey. Been praying for them and all residents.
Prayers are the best thing anyone can offer.
I hope the Seawall can protect Galveston from Hurricane Harvey. You are all in my prayers this weekend.
💗
I hope you survived the storm with minimal damage. I am hoping to visit Galveston sometime next year.
I’ve heard a lot of news about this already and wish it would pass by quickly. I hope that the seawall will still be able to protect Galveston. Having you all in my prayers, keep safe everyone.
Thanks Angela. Houston needs so big support right now.
Keeping y’all in my prayers. I live in Louisiana and am no stranger to hurricanes! I hope the Seawall helped prevent loss of life and property!
As far as we know it did, but all results are not in yet.
I’ve been watching it on the news, I am praying so hard for Rockport and Galveston! They got hit terribly! Thankfully it’s now downgraded to a tropical storm, here’s to hoping that it stays off shore!
Agreed. Thanks a million dear!
This is so scary. I cannot imagine living in an area that was under such a weather threat.
Me either! I am visiting Galveston and enjoyed vacations there but I don’t think I could ever live there is a full-time resident!
I watched a documentary that was both facinating and horrifying about the 1900 hurricane. It’s about all I can think about with Hurricane Harvey and I’m certainly hoping that with the warnings and evacuations there will won’t be many lives lost. I don’t live near the ocean, so I didn’t know much about the seawall. Thanks for explaining what that is. I didn’t realize any protections had been put into place for hurricanes.
Keep Texas in your prayers as the authorities go through the rumble to find people. Most did evacuate. But the elderly with mobility issues were left behind with some to take care of them. There are also a lot of people and some of the less fortunate areas that did not have the money to evacuate. They had nowhere to go.
My heart and prayers go out to Galveston. I’ve never had to deal with a hurricane, so can’t even imagine being in a similar situation. I ‘ll be sending prayers that the seawall holds and everyone is safe.
Thanks Jennifer
This just makes me so worried for those in the vicinity. I am definitely praying!
Praying is the best thing any of us can do!