When you choose to live and work on the Texas Gulf Coast, you must come to terms with the threat of hurricanes. If you have been living near the coast for the past several years, you have heard every summer that "this is the year for the big one and you had better run when it comes". Instead of fearing these storms, you should respect the storms, make a plan, and be prepared. People that do not leave need to be assured that their home is reasonably safe. Trust the authorities in your area, and if they tell you to evacuate, then do so. The Galveston-Houston area is in a very dreadful situation with the large population increase and traffic problems. If everyone waits until the last possible moment, everyone will not be able to evacuate safely. You should have several plans to save your life and property, giving a priority rank to your various plans of action. Also, with the severe subsidence in this area, you should check the latest elevation information each year. Your house may be eight feet lower than when it was built!

The tracks of some significant storms to strike the Gulf Coast are given in Table 10.