hurricane hurricane destructive tropical cyclone developed atlantic hurricane season fifth tropical storm hurricane season originated interaction cold core low tropical wave july system designated tropical depression july south louisiana westward swiftly intensified tropical storm gulf_coast united_states turn northwest evident attained category hurricane status saffir simpson hurricane scale following day organized developed storm hurricane curved northward slow forward speed strength maintained approached coast texas minimal hurricane came ashore evening july local time utc july galveston texas rapidly weakened tropical storm later depression moved inland dissipated july turned northwestward remnant moisture later sparked upper level thunderstorms late july early august prior arrival texas numerous hurricane warnings issued individuals evacuated torrential rains produced southeastern texas led widespread flooding highways sea vessels took storm having stranded damaged forms transportation air rail road significantly interrupted shut high winds storm caused expansive damage buildings windows signs roofs hurricane resulted injuries deaths approximately cattle drowned damage texas galveston harris counties million total damage storm reached million aftermath weather_bureau criticized lack warning bureau chief maintained fortunate warnings issued delivered timely manner meteorological history origins area convection western bahamas florida related upper cold core low tropical wave july whilst influence subtropical ridge belt high pressure slowly southwestward arrived gulf_of_mexico july weak surface circulation observed near est utc july affected inverted trough turned westward system circulation remained indistinct july winds knots adjacent coasts louisiana texas storm attained tropical characteristics near utc situated south louisiana subsequently designated tropical depression ship communications coast july relayed winds knots barometric pressure mbar inhg indicated tropical storm saffir simpson hurricane scale radar imagery taken near utc plant texas evidenced fledged category hurricane scale prominent spiral appearance perceived radar previous afternoon result polar trough aloft central united_states curved northward winds shifted southward earlier prediction bend west northwest northwest reconnaissance flight determined location center mid morning hurricane landfall near peak intensity galveston texas evening july local time utc july rapidly weakened july arched west northwest maintained tropical characteristics dissipation july central oklahoma system progressed north northwestward moved inland moisture eastern fringe northeast causing heavy rains confined limited areas northeast louisiana southern arkansas eventually traversed east northeastward northern mississippi tennessee kentucky moisture instability led high level thunderstorms montana northern idaho july august hurricane development near coast unusual addition rapid intensification abnormal direction lack ship reports incorrect information received received complicated forecasts formation close coast inadequate time cause greater storm surge floods accounted month rainfall preparations weather_bureau new_orleans louisiana issued small craft warnings utc july stretching port connor high island texas gale warnings posted port connor texas regular gale warnings extending north texas utc hurricane warning later declared areas utc published utc warnings widely distributed radio services including newspapers bulletin boards telegraph regional storm board storm warning displays thousand citizens sought shelter public facilities including schools approximately inhabitants evacuated amid threat thousand fled fled estimate said people left area stayed residents took shelter public buildings galveston numerous moved resort towns areas impact texas highest reported winds estimated mph gusts mph near tides feet feet galveston bay measured highest tides feet normal overall storm surge feet high near houston height approximately feet area storm surge feet feet feet average alongside gulf_coast especially texas widespread measurements heavy rainfall included total inches orange texas led low lying streets total highest attributed daily rainfall record inches achieved hurricane force winds stretched miles inland simultaneous occurrence storm surge heavy rainfall wrought led widespread flooding highways including highway northwest galveston july caused detachment mainland hours major roadways flooded highway galveston farm road extending unconfirmed report indicated funnel cloud briefly touched roughly miles northwest approximately utc damage occurred majority private piers situated western northern ends galveston bay destroyed result storm surge damage primarily constituted roofs glass sign boards certain sea vessels abundant damage caused rising waters torrential rains approximately cattle killed western edge furniture thrown luxury hotel swimming pool shattering large window entrance completely destroyed remnants adjacent road largest quantity damage sea vessels consolidated near area widespread damage winds tides evident area men rescued attempting endure hurricane fishing camp later rescued houston area damage limited power lines downed trees houston international airport air transport terminated water transportation vast ships remained ports advised touch downed power lines electricity knocked hospital roads immersed rail road traffic houston significantly interrupted person went missing areas damage houses structures totaled hundreds thousands dollars shops damaged homes suffered damage crop damage reached hundreds thousands dollars boat captain hurt vessel crashed rock waves feet tower feet tall utilized purpose storm warning flags demolished damage city involved broken windows roof addition power outages occurred automobiles blown city roads second street city primary street feet costs overall effects estimated mayor claimed damage reach million damage known totaled million reports asserted person died offshore area unconfirmed individual daughter previously listed missing city discovered houston individuals reported missing including vessel offshore night club burst flames hurricane winds created possibility blaze spreading dealt came location destroyed approximately piers small size shrimp boat known difficult situations sent distress claiming boat fuel tank dismantled crew anticipating explosion aircraft searched boat began identified board later recovered vessels reported missing recovered july ship known hope crew thrown ashore miles southeast united_states_coast_guard incapable rescuing craft tornadoes touched near associated precursor damage galveston eastern harris counties totaled million damage increased total million people suffered minor injuries addition coast oklahoma torrential rainfall produced floods small areas state especially southeast north central portions state tornadoes touched counties prior tracking miles resulting minimal damage consecutive hours torrential rains led inches observed heavy rainfall occurred louisiana mississippi arkansas alabama missouri illinois indiana kentucky ohio sparked high level thunderstorms montana northern idaho eventually leading aftermath editorial published houston_chronicle criticized lack warnings prior hurricane arrival texas alleging radar aircraft communication systems weather_bureau able warning advance storm article remarked bureau ordinary citizen regards chief weather_bureau fired saying fortunate warning continued weather_bureau equipment complaining released maintained warnings issued promptly repairs texas completed struck shortly september
Hurricane Debra (1959)