Between the last week of August and the first week of September 2008, the Atlantic Ocean queued up a series of tropical storms. Ike became a large storm that raked over Cuba and targeted the Texas coast.
East of Galveston, Texas, a thin barrier beach—Bolivar Peninsula—stretches along the coastline. On the far eastern end of Bolivar Peninsula is High Island, so named for the salt dome that boosts the area some 11.6 meters (38 feet) above the rest of the Gulf Coast. After Hurricane Ike passed, rescuers combed through the destroyed communities along Bolivar Peninsula. Thanks to its elevation, High Island fared better than other parts of the Peninsula.
Published Sep 20, 2008
Ike had sustained winds of 165 kilometer per hour (105 miles per hour) with stronger gusts about the time this image was taken. Despite the strong winds, the real danger associated with Ike was coastal flooding and large, damaging waves.
Published Sep 13, 2008
As Hurricane Ike battered Cuba on September 8, 2008, the rugged island punched back. Rainfall rates dropped dramatically as the storm crossed the island, losing power from a Category 4 to Category 2 hurricane.
Published Sep 10, 2008
