Quick Facts on Galveston Hurricane of 1900

The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 remains the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Historians estimate that between 6,000 and 12,000 people died after the Category 4 hurricane hit Galveston, Texas, on September 8, 1900.

he stormThe Category 4 hurricane ripped into the island city known as the "Jewel of Texas," killing thousands of people and wiping away nearly three-quarters of Galveston, Texas. The 18-hour storm had estimated winds of 135 mph causing 15-foot-high waves that swept over the sea-level streets, destroying lives, homes and roads and cutting off the electricity and communication systems.