hurricane ike

A look back at Hurricane Ike

Monday, September 13, 2021
In September 2008, Hurricane Ike caused massive damage in Galveston, Houston, and Bolivar.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- It was Sept. 13, 2008, when Hurricane Ike ripped through the Houston area, claiming the lives of dozens in Texas.

The powerful category 2 storm ravaged the Gulf Coast after making landfall that day around 2 a.m., flattening homes and obliterating entire towns and creating a huge storm surge that destroyed buildings and businesses along Galveston's Seawall.

It's one of the deadliest and most expensive storms, costing an estimated $34.8 billion.

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Due to the massive damage and number of deaths, the World Meteorological Organization retired the name Ike in April of 2009.

Waves crash behind a statue commemorating the devastating storm of 1900 as Hurricane Ike approaches, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, in Galveston, Texas.none
Daniel Gallegos photographs as waves from approaching Hurricane Ike crash into the seawall, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, in Galveston, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)none
Evacuee Sherman Johnson, left, holds his newphew, Tyree Turner, as they wait to sign up to board an evacuation bus Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008 in Galveston, Texas.none
Galveston Island evacuees line up to register for an evacuation bus Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008 in Galveston, Texas.none
Adrian Demetreo boards the windows of Galveston Furniture Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008 in Galveston, Texas.none
Anthony Conde surfs as Hurricane Ike approaches the Texas coast, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008, in Galveston, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)none
Nurses load infants being evacuated from John Sealy Hospital in advance of Hurricane Ike Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008 in Galveston, Texas.none
Residents of Edgewater retirement home line up to board an evacuation bus Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008 in Galveston, Texas.none
Patients from the Shriner Hospital of Galveston are evacuated in advance of Hurricane Ike Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008 in Galveston, Texas.none
Rusty Legg, left, holds the ladder for John Moore as Chris Robertson boards up the window on Legg's 1895 home in advance Hurricane Ike Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008.none
In this Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008 picture, University of Texas Medical Branch patients are evacuated as Hurricane Ike approaches Galveston, Texas.none
Debra Schmid, from right, her fiance Chuck Schmid, and their dogs Gertrude and Mildred watch as waves from approaching Hurricane Ike crash into the seawall, Sept. 12, 2008.none
Daniel Gallegos watches as a wave crashes into the seawall as Hurricane Ike approaches the Texas coast, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, in Galveston, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)none
A family watches as waves from approaching Hurricane Ike crash into the seawall, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, in Galveston, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)none
Sylvia Renteria, of Houston, watches a big wave caused by approaching Hurricane Ike crash into the seawall, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, in Galveston, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)none
Traffic drives through debris along the seawall as waves crash in from Hurricane Ike, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, in Galveston, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)none
Rudy Betancourt walks through a flooded street after boarding up his business in downtown Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Ike approaches, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008.none
A person rides his bike through a flooded street near downtown Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Ike approaches the Texas coast, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)none
Estella Morales walks through a flooded street after checking on a friend's business in downtown Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Ike approaches, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008.none
People pull back as a wave crashes against the seawall as Hurricane Ike approaches the Texas coast, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, in Galveston, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)none
Robert Shumake walks down the seawall as waves roll in from Hurricane Ike, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, in Galveston, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)none
A man walks down a flooded street in Galveston, Texas, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008.none
Debris brought ashore by waves created by Hurricane Ike lay on the road atop the sea wall in Galveston, Texas, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008.none
Steve Owen, right, and his son Austin Owen, 13, are swamped by a wave from Hurricane Ike while standing on the sea wall in Galveston, Texas, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008.none
Evan Norcom looks at a wave from Hurricane Ike while standing on the sea wall in Galveston, Texas, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008.none
A truck drives along the seawall as waves crash over the partially flooded road as Hurricane Ike approaches Friday, Sept. 12, 2008 in Galveston, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)none
Fire destroys homes along the beach on Galveston Island, Texas as Hurricane Ike approaches Friday, Sept. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)none
A truck drives along the seawall past crashing waves as Hurricane Ike approaches Friday, Sept. 12, 2008 in Galveston, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)none
With Hurricane Ike offshore, Michael Gardner walks in high water in front of a burning marina warehouse in Galveston, Texas, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008.none
Steve Owen, right, and his son Austin Owen, 13, are swamped by a wave from hurricane Ike while standing on the sea wall in Galveston, Texas, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008.none
A home burns as waves from Hurricane Ike crash the shoreline Friday, Sept. 12, 2008 in Galveston, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)none
In this photo taken Sept. 12, 2008, a boarded up home sits along the beach as Hurricane Ike approaches Galveston, Texas.none




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