Galveston Storm History: The Hurricanes That Shaped the Island
From the deadliest disaster in American history to Ike and Beryl, Galveston's storms explain why the island has a Seawall, a windstorm code, TWIA — and why claims here are different.
Peak wind by storm
Highest reported or estimated wind associated with each storm (units: mph; sources vary by era).
Major storms affecting Galveston
- 1900
The Great Galveston Storm
Struck September 8, 1900, with a storm surge of about 15.7 feet over an island whose highest point was under 9 feet. Between 6,000 and 8,000 people died in the city — the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Galveston responded by building the Seawall and raising the grade of the entire city.
- 1915
The 1915 Galveston Hurricane
On August 16–17, 1915, a surge of about 16 feet tested the new Seawall. The city behind it largely held, a turning point that proved engineering could protect the island.
- 1943
The "Surprise" Hurricane
Wartime censorship limited warnings when this July 27, 1943 storm came ashore on Bolivar Peninsula. Nineteen people died.
- 1961
Hurricane Carla
Carla made landfall near Port O'Connor on September 11, 1961, about 120 miles southwest, yet its size brought surge and a destructive tornado to Galveston.
- 1983
Hurricane Alicia
Alicia came ashore on the west end of Galveston Island on August 18, 1983, with about 12 feet of surge along Galveston Bay, 21 deaths and roughly $3 billion in damage. Its wind damage helped drive stronger coastal building standards.
- 2001
Tropical Storm Allison
A reminder that water, not wind, is often the costlier peril: Allison caused about $5 billion in damage in June 2001, mostly from flooding in the Houston region.
- 2005
Hurricane Rita
Rita made landfall at the Texas–Louisiana border on September 24, 2005. Galveston was evacuated, and the massive evacuation itself was deadly.
- 2008
Hurricane Ike
Ike made landfall on the east end of Galveston Island on September 13, 2008, with surge of 10–15 feet on the island and 15–20 feet on Bolivar — far worse than its category suggested. Damage was about $19.3 billion, Texas saw more than 800,000 windstorm-related claims, and TWIA handled tens of thousands of claims; many became disputes over wind vs. flood.
- 2017
Hurricane Harvey
Harvey stalled over Southeast Texas at the end of August 2017, producing catastrophic rain flooding in Galveston County. Texas insurers reported roughly 670,000 property claims.
- 2021
Hurricane Nicholas
Nicholas came ashore near Sargent on September 14, 2021, bringing wind, rain and power outages to the upper coast.
- 2024
Hurricane Beryl
Beryl made landfall near Matagorda on July 8, 2024, knocking out power to millions in the Houston–Galveston area. TWIA reported paying about $336 million to roughly 34,000 policyholders. In 2026 a federal class action alleged TWIA reduced Beryl estimates — allegations that remain unproven.
- 2025
A quiet year for Texas
No tropical cyclone made landfall in Texas in 2025. Quiet seasons are the best time to review coverage, photograph your property and get a WPI-8 in order.
Lesson 1: Surge is the killer
From 1900 to Ike, water — not wind — did the most damage. That's why flood insurance is separate, and why wind vs. flood is the most common Galveston claim dispute.
Lesson 2: Category isn't everything
Ike was "only" Category 2. Beryl was Category 1. Both produced massive claim volume. Roof damage starts well below hurricane strength — see our shingle wind calculator.
Lesson 3: Claims pile up
After big storms, adjusters are overloaded and estimates get rushed. Documentation and deadlines decide who gets paid in full. We track every 70+ mph wind day.
Sources: National Park Service; Texas State Historical Association; Galveston & Texas History Center; NOAA/NHC Tropical Cyclone Reports (Ike AL092008, Nicholas AL142021, Beryl AL022024); NWS Houston/Galveston; TDI Harvey data call; TWIA 2024 season review; Insurance Journal. Figures from early storms are historical estimates.