From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hurricane Beulah was the second tropical storm,
second hurricane, and only major hurricane during the 1967 Atlantic hurricane
season. It tracked through the Caribbean, struck the Yucatán
peninsula of Mexico as a major hurricane, and moved west-northwest
into the Gulf of Mexico, briefly gaining Category 5 intensity. It was the strongest
hurricane during the 1967 Atlantic hurricane
season. The hurricane made landfall in northeastern Mexico with
winds near 160 mph (260 km/h). The cyclone then weakened before
moving into Texas as a major hurricane. It spawned 115 twisters across Texas, which established a new
record for the highest amount of tornadoes produced by a tropical
cyclone. Due to its slow movement over Texas, Beulah led to
significant flooding, and caused over $1 billion (2005 USD)
in damages. There were 58 fatalities. Three fatalaties could be
attributed to flooding in Lamar Park, Corpus Christi. Two teen
swimmers and a rescuer were pulled to their deaths by drainage
suction flowing into Corpus Christi Bay.
Preparations
Beginning on the afternoon of September 17, people were advised
to remain off the beaches of Padre, Mustang, and St. Joseph
Islands. Immediate evacuation of Port Aransas and Mustang, Padre,
and St. Joseph Islands was advised on the morning of September 19.
Most residents and others on the islands evacuated, including the
personnel of Padre Island National Seashore. About 40 persons
remained on the islands, including about 20 at Port Aransas.
Immediate evacuation of Rockport and Live Oak and Lamar Peninsulas
was advised in the evenimg of September 19. These areas and the
towns of Ingleside and Aransas Pass were nearly completely
evacuated. About 50 persons remained in Rockport. The evacuation of
the University of Corpus Christi was advised on the morning of
September 20, and Corpus Christi Beach and parts of Flour Bluff
were also evacuated. During the storm there were 30,000 people
in shelters in Nueces and San Patricio Counties, including 6,000 in
Corpus Christi.[1]
Impact
The periphery of the hurricane brought rainfall primarily to
southwestern Puerto
Rico, where a maximum of 9.76 inches (248 mm) fell at
Maricao.[2] Only
one death occurred in Hispaniola, due to proper evacuations, as
opposed to Hurricane Inez a year earlier that
caused 1,000 deaths. In Mexico, Beulah ripped out the soft coral
and sponges from the reefs around Cozumel.[3]
In Texas upon landfall, an 18 feet (5.5 m) to
20 feet (6.1 m) storm surge inundated lower Padre Island.
The force of the storm tide made 31 cuts completely through the
barrier island.[4] Padre Island suffered
significant devastation, and the island's sensitive ecosystem was
altered by the storm. The highest sustained wind was reported as
136 miles per hour (219 km/h), recorded in the town of South Padre Island, across
the Laguna Madre from Port Isabel. Winds as high as
109 miles per hour (175 km/h) were measured at the
Brownsville National Weather Service office at landfall. Since the
hurricane bent the anemometer 30 degrees from the
vertical, it is possible the winds at Brownsville were
underestimated.[5]
Gusts of over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) were recorded
as far inland as the towns of McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, and Pharr, some 50 miles (80 km)
from the gulf coast. Beulah spawned a record 115 tornadoes[6] which
destroyed homes, commercial property, and inflicted serious damage
on the region's agricultural industry. The tornado record from
Beulah would survive until Hurricane Ivan set a new record in 2004.
The Rio Grande Valley's citrus industry, based on cultivation of
the famous "Ruby Red" grapefruit, was particularly hard hit.
Damage and Flooding in McAllen, Texas from Hurricane Beulah.
The lower Rio Grande Valley, the four county region that
comprises deep south Texas, was inundated with torrential rains.
Within a 36 hour period it dropped over 27 inches
(690 mm) of rain near Beeville, Texas.[7]
Falfurrias received more rain from Beulah than it normally records
during one year. Areas south of Laredo, San Antonio, and Matagorda
were isolated for more than a week due to the resulting flood.[4] On
September 28, President Lyndon Baines Johnson
declared twenty-four counties in southern Texas a disaster
area.[8]
Animal life in the region responded in various ways to survive.
Ants survived the floods by congregating in spheres of living
colonies and floated down streams to safety. Predaceous beetle
larvae preyed on frogs and rodents. Crustaceans from the beaches
migrated en masse to the protection of high ground.[9]
Hurricane Beulah caused an estimated US$1.1 billion
(2000 dollars) in damage. Sources report either 58 or 59 total
deaths from the storm.[10]
Retirement
The name Beulah was retired and will never be used for an Atlantic hurricane again;[5] it
was replaced with Beth in 1971.
See also
References
External
links
Wikis
Quiz
Map
Search
