31st anniversary of Hurricane Alicia's landfall in Galveston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Hurricane Alicia slammed into the Texas Gulf Coast on this day in 1983, causing 21 deaths, thousands of injuries and billions of dollars in damages.

Alicia was a Category 3 hurricane when it hit Galveston, Texas with sustained winds of nearly 100 mph and gusts up to 127 mph. Seabrook endured a 12-foot storm surge and Houston received 11 inches of rain in a short period of time.

NOAA says there were 14 reported tornadoes between Galveston and Houston in the first day Alicia was on shore. Nine more tornadoes were reported north of Houston on Alicia's second day.

The hurricane was also a big test of Galveston's seawall. The Army Corps of Engineers say the seawall did its job protecting the city and estimated that without the wall, Galveston would have been destroyed.