Houston has had its fair share of hurricanes over the years. During the months of June through November, the Houston area is very susceptible to awful storms and weather, some of which can manifest into hurricanes.
At Eagle Eye, we love the Houston area and believe it is one of the best places to live in the U.S. Putting up with tough weather comes with the territory, unfortunately. However, you can say the same thing for many other parts of the U.S. While these hurricanes can be devastating, most often, the storms that pass through Houston will cause home damage that can be remedied with a team of experienced home repair experts. If your Houston home ever sustains storm damage, give us a call. We offer extensive storm damage repairs for roofs. We’ll guide you through the repair process and make sure that you’re on board with every move we make. We’ll be transparent with you throughout the whole process. That’s our promise.
Here are 5 of the worst hurricanes in Houston history. At the bottom of the article, you’ll find some resources for hurricane safety tips, as you can never be too prepared when it comes to dealing with the formidable weather in Texas.
The Great Galveston Storm (1900)
At the turn of the century, the Galveston area—not too far from Houston—received an estimated $30 million in property damage. In total, 6,000 people were killed by the category 4 hurricane. If that all sounds historically awful, it’s because it was. It is known as the deadliest weather disaster in United States history. A true tragedy that resulted in Galveston’s 17-foot sea wall being built to help prevent future storms from causing so much destruction and lost lives. Only 15 years later, Galveston would see another hurricane that caused $50 million in property damage and killed nearly 300 people.
Tropical Storm Allison (2001)
Technically, Allison is labeled as a tropical storm and not a hurricane. Nevertheless, the storm caused $5 billion in property damage and killed 41 people. Over 70,000 homes sustained damage, 95,000 cars were totaled, and 30,000 people were left stranded in shelters. Just how powerful was this storm? In a matter of days, Houston saw 80% of its yearly rainfall.
Hurricane Harvey (2017)
One of the costliest tropical cyclones in United States History, let alone the Houston area, Hurricane Harvey caused more than $120 billion in damage and killed 68 people. 300,000 structures were flooded, and structures around the city were destroyed due to 130 mph winds. A category 4 storm, Harvey even produced upwards of 60 separate tornadoes during its 5 days of destruction.
Hurricane Ike (2008)
About a decade before Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Ike and its 110 miles per hour winds caused over $38 billion in damage. Starting in the Bahamas and eventually making its way to the U.S., Hurricane Ike killed 214 people and it became the 6th costliest hurricane in U.S. history.
Hurricane Rita (2005)
Not long before Hurricane Ike, Hurricane Rita—known by some as the “Forgotten Storm”—caused nearly $10 billion in damage. With winds that reached upwards of 115 miles per hour, it was the strongest storm to hit Texas since Hurricane Audrey way back in 1957. Seven people died from Hurricane Rita, which also devastated parts of Louisiana.
Hurricane Carla (1961)
In 1961, Hurricane Carla and its 125 miles per hour winds and 175 miles per hour gusts reached category 4 designation. The storm was so bad, it caused an f3 tornado that ravaged downtown Galveston. Forty people died as a result of Hurricane Carla.
Hurricane Safety Resources
If you live in the Houston area—or any part of the world that sees hurricanes or tropical storms—you should occasionally brush up on your hurricane safety. Here are some great resources to take a look at:
Thanks for reading and make sure to check out the rest of our blog for some roof maintenance tips!
