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ESSEA Dust Bowl – Cycle A
Galveston Hurricane of 1900
Cycle A-Teacher as a Problem Solver
Galveston Hurricane Damage.
Photo Courtesy of NOAA/US Dept of Commerce
Scenario:
Hurricanes Dean and Felix both made landfall in Central America in 2007. It was the
first time since record keeping began in the late 1800s that two Category 5 Atlantic
hurricanes made landfall in the same year. Also, on the same day Felix came ashore,
Hurricane Henriette made landfall across the southern tip of Baja California. This
marked the first time Atlantic and Pacific hurricanes made landfall on the same day,
according to National Hurricane Center records that date back to 1949?
Are hurricanes increasing in intensity and frequency?
A look at the past tells us that intense hurricanes have plagued humans for some time.
Even Columbus' fourth voyage in 1502 was marred by a
colossal hurricane - one that sunk 20 treasure ships and
killed 500 sailors in a nearby Spanish fleet. Was Katrina
in 2005 the most devastating hurricane to hit North
America in recent history? One might consider the Great
Galveston Hurricane at the beginning of the 20th
century as a contender.
Galveston, Texas, was on the rise in 1900. A major
seaport for shipping cotton, it was in a race with
Houston for prominence on the Texan coast. Sixteen
Atlantic Ocean Hurricanes, Microsoft Clipart
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foreign country consulates and millionaires' mansions graced the city of 37,000
people. Galveston was totally unprepared for what was about to happen. Many thought
it nearly impossible for a hurricane to threaten the city. In late August and early
September a tropical storm tracked across the Caribbean Sea and passed between
Cuba and Florida. Many believed the storm would turn to the northeast as it passed the
Florida Straits north of Cuba. This was a commonly accepted notion of how tropical
cyclones were supposed to behave. It was unheard of for them to continue to the west.
But this storm, after strengthening into a hurricane just past Florida, would continue
northwest on a path directly toward Galveston. The hurricane pushed a wall of water
over 15 feet deep onto the island that, at its highest point, was only 8.7 feet above sea
level. The wind whipped through Galveston at what was later estimated to be Category
4 speeds (131-155 mph). A 150 mph gust would have a pressure of 100 pounds per
square foot. The lowest barometric pressure recorded during the storm was 28.44
inches. (NOAA later estimated that the pressure near the storm's eye was probably
closer to 27.49 inches.)
On Sept. 9, Galveston lay in desolation. More than 6,000 people lost their lives to what
remains the deadliest hurricane to ever hit the United States (some estimates range as
high as 12,000 deaths). In addition to the thousands dead, the storm left millions of
dollars of destruction in its wake. After making landfall at Galveston, the storm tracked
north through Texas and then into Oklahoma and Kansas. The remnants of the storm
made it northeastward across the Great Lakes and into Canada before passing north of
Halifax on Sept. 12 and disappearing into the North Atlantic.
In addition to the loss of life and property, Galveston lost its allure as shipping firms
moved their businesses to Houston. Galveston is now protected by a huge levee system
to guard against future storms. Also, after the disaster, a six-mile long seawall was
erected and has since been extended. Pumping sand from the ocean floor of the Gulf of
Mexico raised the island. All buildings and roads were also constructed with elevated
foundations in the city. When the Galveston Hurricane of 1915 hit, the city was much
better prepared.
Now that Hurricane Katrina has once again awakened us to the threat of extra strong
hurricanes, your group has been called upon to conduct an Earth system analysis of
the 1900 Galveston Hurricane as a case study in how to prepare for this increasingly
dangerous threat from Mother Nature.
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EDTC 6341.62
ESSEA Dust Bowl – Cycle A
1. Read and analyze the scenario and situation
Taking a glance of past hurricanes allows us to learn how hurricanes have plagued humans
for some time. National Hurricane Centers began recording back in 1949. One of the
devastating hurricanes recorded was the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900.
In 1900, Galveston was one of the major seaport cities in competition with Houston in
growing in the seaport shipping. However, on September 9 everything would change for
the city and all of Galveston citizen’s. A Category 4 hurricane made landfall claiming 6,000
lives and left what remained as the deadliest hurricane to ever hit the United States. In
addition, to the numerous lives lost the storm left millions of dollars of devastation.
With such devastation among Galveston, its citizens learned
how to protect and become better prepared by creating a levee
system to guard the city from future hurricanes. A seawall was
brought upright; the island was raised by pumping sand from
the floor of the Gulf of Mexico.
E>S (Event > Sphere)
E>B
Storm surges destroys vegetation, rainfall causes loss of life due to flooding and drowning;
and may pollute drinking water resources. Strong winds project objects into the air
possibly harming humans.
E>L
Storm surge inundates low lying areas of the coastal
areas combined with wind it erodes beaches and
embankments.
E>A
The wind up roots trees which produces oxygen and absorb
carbon dioxide, lack of trees tend to decrease oxygen
production and an increase of carbon dioxide in the
affected areas.
E>H
Flooding from rain creates hazardous wastes, pesticides, and other toxic chemicals to
contaminate water sources.
Lupita Sanchez SID 0098200
EDTC 6341.62
ESSEA Dust Bowl – Cycle A
S>E (Sphere > Event)
L>E
As a hurricane reaches land it encounters friction and lack of fuel (warm water) and the
hurricane starts to die down.
A>E
Warm air raises causing clusters of clouds and thunderstorms
called tropical disturbances. Which leads to formation of hurricanes?
H>E
Hurricanes develop in warm tropical waters of at least 80
degrees. Warm water is fuel for hurricanes.
S > S (Sphere > Sphere)
A> B
Winds from hurricanes can up root trees, damage vegetations and habitats for humans and
other animals.
A>L
Hurricane winds erode beaches and embankments.
A>H
Hurricanes create storm surges due the wind pushing
against water sources
L>A
The lithosphere does not contain warm water that servers as fuel for hurricanes so the
hurricanes die down.
L>B
Flooding kills vegetation that grows on the lithosphere and animals which feed on the
vegetation which can diminish the food supply to humans and other animals.
H>B
Hurricanes create storm surges which create flooding killing humans, animals and
vegetation.
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ESSEA Dust Bowl – Cycle A
List your personal understanding, ideas, or hunches
My personal understanding of hurricanes, are hurricanes are a major natural disaster
which cause devastation to properties, vegetation, and people. I know how strong
hurricane storm winds can become. Living in the Lower Grande Valley we get hurricane
storms and strong winds. We have a hurricane season, which last from 6 to 7 months;
where we begin preparing in the summer until the end of October.
List what is known.
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Hurricanes first record was in the late 1800s
6,000 people lost their lives
Millions of dollars in damaged properties
Great Galveston hurricane what one of the deadliest hurricane to hit the US
A six-mile long seawall was erected and the island was raised.
The people of Galveston were better prepared in 1915
How devastating was Hurricane Katrina
List what is unknown
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How well are people preparing for hurricanes?
Are their evacuation plan in effect for each state, and city?
Are all hurricanes becoming stronger each year?
Did people listen to the warning signs?
Beside a seawall, and raising the island higher, what other method can be made to
prepare another hurricane impact?
How strong have hurricanes increase since the 1900 Galveston Hurricane?
How much is being done to educated people of hurricanes?
List what needs to be done
More research must be done in order to prevent hurricane disasters, such as property and
lives.
Research online database to gather information on past hurricanes and current hurricanes,
contribute questions with team.
Develop a problem statement
Hurricanes are one of Mother Nature’s catastrophe disasters. Hurricanes create
devastation where it makes landfall. With today’s technology we are able to prevent and
educate people to become better prepared for hurricanes.
Lupita Sanchez SID 0098200
EDTC 6341.62
ESSEA Dust Bowl – Cycle A
Gather information
All information used was prior knowledge, resources made available through the ESSEA
resource section. Other web site were research as well, I will exchange my information and
facts with my team in order to generate a Team problem.
Present findings