Tropical Meteorology and The Oleander City

The City of Galveston is steeped in history, much of which has been shaped by the hurricanes and tropical storms that have struck the Upper Texas Coast since the city's founding in 1839. These powerful weather events have left an indelible mark—not only on Galveston itself, but also on the evolution of tropical meteorology as a science. This presentation will explore the city’s hurricane history and highlight the critical role the region has played in advancing the meteorological knowledge and tools that have gone on to save countless lives.

ABOUT CAMERON SELF | Cameron Self is a meteorologist at the Houston-Galveston National Weather Service. A native of the Carolinas, his fascination with hurricanes took root at an early age. He studied physics and meteorology at the College of Charleston and earned a Master’s degree from UNC Charlotte, focusing on tornadoes spawned by tropical systems. Cameron began his career in the private sector as a tropical meteorologist in 2014 before transitioning to public service in 2022 at the Houston-Galveston National Weather Service.

ABOUT THE 1900 STORM | On September 8, 1900, Galveston, Texas, was devastated by the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history when a massive hurricane made landfall on the island. With winds estimated at over 140 miles per hour and a storm surge that swallowed much of the city, the hurricane claimed the lives of more than 6,000 residents and destroyed thousands of homes. At the time, Galveston was a thriving port city and one of the most important commercial hubs on the Gulf Coast. The storm not only reshaped the island physically—with the construction of a seawall and the raising of the city’s elevation—but also altered its trajectory, as economic dominance shifted inland to Houston. The 1900 Storm remains a defining chapter in Galveston’s history, a somber reminder of nature’s power and the islanders’ enduring resilience.

ABOUT GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION | Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) was formed as the Galveston Historical Society in 1871 and merged with a new organization formed in 1954 as a non-profit entity devoted to historic preservation and history in Galveston County. Over the last sixty years, GHF has expanded its mission to encompass community redevelopment, historic preservation advocacy, maritime preservation, coastal resiliency and stewardship of historic properties. GHF embraces a broader vision of history and architecture that encompasses advancements in environmental and natural sciences and their intersection with historic buildings and coastal life and conceives of history as an engaging story of individual lives and experiences on Galveston Island from the 19th century to the present day.

Host or Publisher Galveston Historical Foundation