|
 Hurricane Ike started as a tropical disturbance off the coast of Africa near the end of August 2008, very much like the 1900 storm that came ashore in Galveston. By September 4, Ike was a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph.
Ike struck Galveston at approximately 2:10 a.m. on September 13, 2008. It was a "giant" hurricane that caused extensive damage in Texas. Ike had sustained winds of over 110 mph when it came ashore, and brought with it a 21-1/2 foot storm surge. Ike caused severe and widespread coastal flooding.
The winds and towering waves of Hurricane Ike pushed hundreds of boats onto previously dry ground, and even on to freeway overpasses. Ike flooded thousands of homes, knocked out windows in Houston's skyscrapers, uprooted or destroyed countless trees, and caused the loss of electrical power to millions of homes and businesses for weeks. For some, power was out for months.
Some people survived Hurricane Ike by punching holes in attics, climbing to rooftops or the tops of trees, or floating on debris until reaching solid ground. A few who refused to evacuate their beachfront homes found themselves clinging to whatever they could find in an raging hurricane. Many who did not evacuate lost their lives. Over a year after the storm, dozens are still missing.
After Hurricane Ike passed, Galveston was declared uninhabitable. Houston and other area cities imposed nighttime curfews due to the loss of electrical power. It was several weeks before a sense of normalcy returned to this population center of over 5,000,000 people.
Rainfall estimates indicate that 2-day rainfall totals exceeded 20 inches in northern Harris County and southern Montgomery County, with numerous counties receiving over 10 inches of rainfall.
Hurricane Ike was a killer storm that brought massive destruction. It is destined to go down as one of the most destructive hurricanes of all time.
|
