Indianola Hurricane of 1886
Encyclopedia
The Indianola Hurricane of 1886 destroyed the town of Indianola, Texas
. It was one of the most intense hurricanes ever to hit the United States.
as a Category 2 hurricane, weakened a bit, and hit southeastern Cuba
as a Category 2 hurricane. The storm weakened over land. this went on for 10 days
When the tropical storm reached the favorable Gulf of Mexico
waters on the August 18, it again strengthened. As the hurricane approached the coast of Texas
, it rapidly intensified to a 150 mph (240 km/h) hurricane. At the time, it was tied for the strongest hurricane ever recorded (the first reported, and confirmed, Category 5 hurricane would be in 1928). On August 19, winds increased in Indianola, and, on August 20, it made landfall as a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane. Pressure at landfall is estimated to be 925 mbar
, which would make it the fifth strongest hurricane known to have hit the United States, and by winds, it was the fourth most powerful hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland. The hurricane had moved inland and didn't stop until it hit near the very edge or tip of northern Texas. Texans didn't have a warning until it had hit the Caribbeans.
.
In Texas, the hurricane obliterated the town of Indianola
that was only just recovering from a powerful 1875 hurricane on the same location. This storm caused fewer fatalities however (46 in Indianola, compared to 400 in the 1875 storm), largely because the storm struck during the day and residents had time to take shelter. The hurricane also ended a severe drought in Texas.
The storm hit the coast of Texas on August 20, wreaking property destruction in a number of towns, and resulting in a number of deaths.
The storm reached Victoria, Texas
at about 7 AM, destroying or damaging most of the buildings in the city. An estimated 75 houses were destroyed and another 118 were damaged. The town's jail
and high school
were both damaged while the freight station, Masonic hall, and certain sections of town were "almost literally swept from the earth." No deaths were reported in the town, but the initial damages were estimated at $100,000 (1886 USD) and the citizens of the town declared the hurricane "the most terrible storm ever known in Victoria."
In Indianola, Texas
, the hurricane started a great
fire, probably ignited by lamps burning in houses blown down by the wind. The fire destroyed all but two of the town's buildings and killed a large number of citizens. The storm also destroyed two and half miles of railroad track, making communication with Indianola very difficult and complicating rescue efforts.
In Galveston, Texas
, the storm capsized a forty-ton schooner
, the Liviona Perkins, killing three crew members. The storm also damaged roads, railways and houses leading to an estimated $200,000 in damage (1886 USD).
.
The storm ended the rivalry between Galveston and Indianola
as the chief port of Texas
. With the abandonment of Indianola and the unwillingness of the former residents to rebuild close to shore, Galveston became the most important Texan port until the 1900 Galveston Hurricane led to the rise of Houston as a major port.
Indianola, Texas
Indianola is a ghost town located on Matagorda Bay in Calhoun County, Texas, United States. The community, once the county seat of Calhoun County, is a part of the Victoria, Texas, Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 1875, the city had a population of 5,000, but on September 15 of that year, a...
. It was one of the most intense hurricanes ever to hit the United States.
Meteorological history
The storm began east of the Lesser Antilles on August 12. The tropical storm moved northwestward through the islands, reaching hurricane strength on August 13. It hit the Dominican RepublicDominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
as a Category 2 hurricane, weakened a bit, and hit southeastern Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
as a Category 2 hurricane. The storm weakened over land. this went on for 10 days
When the tropical storm reached the favorable Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
waters on the August 18, it again strengthened. As the hurricane approached the coast of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, it rapidly intensified to a 150 mph (240 km/h) hurricane. At the time, it was tied for the strongest hurricane ever recorded (the first reported, and confirmed, Category 5 hurricane would be in 1928). On August 19, winds increased in Indianola, and, on August 20, it made landfall as a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane. Pressure at landfall is estimated to be 925 mbar
Bar (unit)
The bar is a unit of pressure equal to 100 kilopascals, and roughly equal to the atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level. Other units derived from the bar are the megabar , kilobar , decibar , centibar , and millibar...
, which would make it the fifth strongest hurricane known to have hit the United States, and by winds, it was the fourth most powerful hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland. The hurricane had moved inland and didn't stop until it hit near the very edge or tip of northern Texas. Texans didn't have a warning until it had hit the Caribbeans.
Impact
The total death toll was at least 74, including 28 in CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
In Texas, the hurricane obliterated the town of Indianola
Indianola
Indianola may refer to:*Indianola, California **Indianola , California**Indianola , California* Indianola, Florida* Indianola, Illinois* Indianola, Iowa* Indianola, Mississippi* Indianola, Nebraska...
that was only just recovering from a powerful 1875 hurricane on the same location. This storm caused fewer fatalities however (46 in Indianola, compared to 400 in the 1875 storm), largely because the storm struck during the day and residents had time to take shelter. The hurricane also ended a severe drought in Texas.
The storm hit the coast of Texas on August 20, wreaking property destruction in a number of towns, and resulting in a number of deaths.
The storm reached Victoria, Texas
Victoria, Texas
Victoria is a city in and the seat of Victoria County, Texas, United States. The population was 60,603 at the 2000 census. The three counties of the Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 111,163 at the 2000 census,...
at about 7 AM, destroying or damaging most of the buildings in the city. An estimated 75 houses were destroyed and another 118 were damaged. The town's jail
Jail
A jail is a short-term detention facility in the United States and Canada.Jail may also refer to:In entertainment:*Jail , a 1966 Malayalam movie*Jail , a 2009 Bollywood movie...
and high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
were both damaged while the freight station, Masonic hall, and certain sections of town were "almost literally swept from the earth." No deaths were reported in the town, but the initial damages were estimated at $100,000 (1886 USD) and the citizens of the town declared the hurricane "the most terrible storm ever known in Victoria."
In Indianola, Texas
Indianola, Texas
Indianola is a ghost town located on Matagorda Bay in Calhoun County, Texas, United States. The community, once the county seat of Calhoun County, is a part of the Victoria, Texas, Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 1875, the city had a population of 5,000, but on September 15 of that year, a...
, the hurricane started a great
fire, probably ignited by lamps burning in houses blown down by the wind. The fire destroyed all but two of the town's buildings and killed a large number of citizens. The storm also destroyed two and half miles of railroad track, making communication with Indianola very difficult and complicating rescue efforts.
In Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
, the storm capsized a forty-ton schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
, the Liviona Perkins, killing three crew members. The storm also damaged roads, railways and houses leading to an estimated $200,000 in damage (1886 USD).
Aftermath
Indianola's residents relocated farther inland after the storm; the old town's ruins sit just offshore under 15 feet of water in Matagorda BayMatagorda Bay
Matagorda Bay is a large estuary bay on the Texas coast, lying in Calhoun and Matagorda counties and located approximately northeast of Corpus Christi, southeast of San Antonio, southwest of Houston, and southeast of Austin. It is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by Matagorda Peninsula and...
.
The storm ended the rivalry between Galveston and Indianola
Indianola
Indianola may refer to:*Indianola, California **Indianola , California**Indianola , California* Indianola, Florida* Indianola, Illinois* Indianola, Iowa* Indianola, Mississippi* Indianola, Nebraska...
as the chief port of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. With the abandonment of Indianola and the unwillingness of the former residents to rebuild close to shore, Galveston became the most important Texan port until the 1900 Galveston Hurricane led to the rise of Houston as a major port.
See also
- List of tropical cyclones
- List of Atlantic hurricanes
- Galveston Hurricane of 1900Galveston Hurricane of 1900The Hurricane of 1900 made landfall on the city of Galveston in the U.S. state of Texas, on September 8, 1900.It had estimated winds of at landfall, making it a Category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale...