The storm surge, wave action, and currents together erode beaches. Normally, the height given for the storm surge does not include the high waves, generated by hurricane winds, that batter exposed coastlines. When these large waves break near shore, the amount of energy is devastating to vulnerable man-made structures. During Hurricane Camille in 1969, people stayed in these appartments. See Figures 13 and 14 (Before and After pictures).

The storm surge is the water rise along the shore due to onshore wind-driven water. The maximum storm surge is expected 10-50 miles to the right-front of the storm track. However, high tides can be expected all along the Texas coast during a severe hurricane. The storm surge floods low-lying areas along the coast with salt water, and can destroy crops and much of the natural vegetation. The combination of wind and water scours land, allowing houses to be lifted off their foundations and sometimes torn to pieces to be used as battering rams against other structures. Much of the damage is caused by this battering effect. Other battering objects are boats, vehicles, and power poles. Historically, large vessels such as freighters have been driven ashore during hurricanes. Deep channels can be cut through peninsulas, and bridges can be destroyed, cutting off access to islands. In 1980, Hurricane Allen made over 60 wash-over channels in Padre Island.

In 1970, the Bay of Bengal experienced a storm in which 200,000 people were killed by the storm surge (Ludlum, 1982). Closer to home, in the 1900 Galveston hurricane, at least 6000 people drowned by the storm surge. The right-front quadrant of the storm, with respect to the heading, experiences the heaviest storm surge. The water level begins to rise and many houses and streets flood before the most intense winds in the storm (along the eye wall) make landfall. Table 5 gives some of the maximum surges that resulted from past Texas Hurricanes.