Texas has seen some of the most destructive storms in American history. From hurricanes that reshaped entire coastlines to tornadoes that leveled towns in minutes, the Lone Star State knows extreme weather. For families and business owners along the Gulf Coast, including here in Corpus Christi, Houston, and Victoria, these storms are more than history lessons. They’re a reminder of how fast a home, business, or vehicle can be damaged, and why knowing your insurance rights matters.
Here’s a look at the 10 worst storms in Texas history, and what to do if a storm ever damages your property.
1. The Great Galveston Hurricane (1900)
Still the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, the 1900 Galveston Hurricane killed an estimated 6,000 to 12,000 people when a storm surge overwhelmed the island city with little warning. The disaster led to major changes in hurricane forecasting and coastal engineering, including Galveston’s famous seawall. Today, Galveston homeowners still face serious hurricane risk every storm season.
We have offices in Houston, Corpus Christi, and Victoria; and will travel to any corner of Texas if we are capable of preventing an injustice.
2. Hurricane Harvey (2017)
Harvey dumped over 50 inches of rain on parts of the Houston area, causing roughly $125 billion in damage, making it one of the costliest hurricanes in U.S. history. Tens of thousands of homes flooded, and many families spent years fighting insurance companies over flood damage claims to rebuild.
3. Hurricane Ike (2008)
Ike made landfall near Galveston as a massive Category 2 storm, causing widespread destruction across the upper Texas coast. Storm surge flooded entire neighborhoods, and total damage across the region topped $38 billion, leaving many families to navigate hurricane damage insurance claims for years afterward.
Representing the injured in all areas of Texas that extends back over 40 years
4. The Waco Tornado (1953)
The deadliest tornado in Texas history struck downtown Waco on May 11, 1953, killing 114 people and injuring hundreds more. It remains one of the top 10 deadliest tornadoes ever recorded in the United States, and a stark reminder of how tornado damage claims can upend an entire community.
You need a skilled advocate to protect your legal rights and present your claim in such a way as to maximize your recovery.
5. Hurricane Carla (1961)
At the time, Carla was the largest and most intense hurricane on record to hit the Texas coast. It triggered the largest evacuation in U.S. history up to that point, forcing roughly 500,000 people to flee, and caused catastrophic flooding from Corpus Christi to the Golden Triangle.
6. The Jarrell Tornado (1997)
One of only two F5 tornadoes ever confirmed in Texas, the Jarrell tornado nearly wiped the small Central Texas town off the map, killing 27 people. Its slow movement and multi-vortex structure made it one of the most destructive tornadoes ever recorded.
7. Hurricane Rita (2005)
Rita struck Southeast Texas just weeks after Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana, triggering a mass evacuation of Houston that left millions stuck on gridlocked highways. The storm caused billions in damage and over 100 deaths, many related to the evacuation itself.
8. Tropical Storm Allison (2001)
Allison never reached hurricane strength, but it became one of the costliest tropical storms in U.S. history. It stalled over Houston and dumped more than 35 inches of rain in days, flooding thousands of homes and businesses and causing over $5 billion in water damage.
9. Hurricane Beulah (1967)
Beulah slammed into the Rio Grande Valley and spawned a record 115 tornadoes across South Texas, the most ever produced by a single tropical system in the U.S. Catastrophic flooding followed, devastating farmland and homes across the region.
10. The North Texas Tornado Outbreak (2015)
On December 26, 2015, a rare outbreak of strong tornadoes, including an EF4 that tore through Garland and Rowlett, struck the Dallas-Fort Worth area during the holidays. The storms killed 13 people and caused widespread property destruction, often accompanied by hail damage to roofs, siding, and vehicles, in a part of the state not known for tornado activity at that time of year.
What to Do If a Storm Damages Your Property
Whether it’s hurricane flooding, wind damage, or a tornado’s path of destruction, Texas storms leave families and business owners dealing with insurance companies when they’re already going through a hard time. Too often, insurers deny property claims or underpay what’s owed. That’s where a trusted storm damage lawyer can make the difference between a fair settlement and a fight that drags on for years.
If you’ve suffered storm damage, hurricane damage, or hail damage to your home or business, you don’t have to face the insurance company alone. As a dedicated hurricane property damage attorney and insurance lawyer team, Carrigan & Anderson gives clients direct access to our attorneys, not a call center, from your very first consultation. Learn more about our firm or read how to file a hurricane property damage claim in Texas. We’ve recovered millions for Texas families, including $2 million in settlements for hurricane and hail damage claims alone.
Whatever your situation, we are here for you. Contact Carrigan & Anderson today for a free consultation. We work on contingency, no win, no fee.
At Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC we can talk to you about your options and rights.
