| 1941 HURRICANE September 23rd, 1941: A storm formed over the central Gulf on the 17th. It made a counter-clockwise loop, moved west, then northward to near Matagorda on the 23rd. A ship near Texas City reported winds of 83 mph and a pressure of 28.66". Winds were estimated near 100 m.p.h. at several locations along the coast. A ruined rice crop resulted in $5 million in damages. Wind damage occurred at Houston as the system turned northeast. The approach of this storm was so heralded that 25,000 people evacuated, leaving the smaller towns practically deserted. Freeport has a tide of 9.9' while very high tides were experienced from Matagorda to Galveston. Only 4 lives were lost to this hurricane with $7,000,000 in damage. |