Historic Disaster
The 1900 Galveston Hurricane Remains the Deadliest U.S. Natural Disaster
A hurricane on September 8, 1900 killed between 6,000 and 8,000 people in the city of Galveston, with island-wide casualties estimated between 10,000 and 12,000, and reshaped the county's history.
On September 8, 1900, a hurricane made landfall on Galveston Island. Storm surge covered the entire island to depths of up to 15 feet. Between 6,000 and 8,000 people died in the city of Galveston, with island-wide casualties estimated between 10,000 and 12,000. The storm destroyed about two-thirds of the city's buildings.
The hurricane marked the end of Galveston's era as Texas's leading city and port. Houston grew to fill that role as Galveston rebuilt. The disaster also led to major changes in how the city and state prepare for storms. The Texas State Historical Association documents the full story at tshaonline.org.
Source to confirm: TSHA Handbook of Texas — Galveston Hurricane of 1900