Hurricane Humberto (2007)

After forming as a tropical depression about 120 miles south of Galveston the day before, Humberto made landfall just east of High Island, Texas, in McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge around 2 a.m. CDT on September 13, 2007.^1,2 It came ashore as a Category 1 hurricane with 80-knot (92 mph) winds and a central pressure of 985 mb, then moved across the Beaumont and Port Arthur area into southwestern Louisiana.¹

The highest official wind was at the Sea Rim State Park C-MAN station, with sustained winds of 60 knots (69 mph) and gusts to 74 knots (85 mph).¹ A barge in the Golden Pass ship channel near the Texas and Louisiana border reported an unofficial gust of 101 knots (116 mph).¹ NHC says sustained hurricane-force winds were likely felt only in a small area up to about 15 miles wide in extreme southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana.¹ Rain totaled 14.13 inches at East Bay Bayou in southeast Chambers County, and 3 to 5 inches fell over a wide area stretching into central Louisiana.^1,2 Surge of about 2 to 4 feet was common from east of Galveston Bay to near Lake Charles.¹

Most damage came from freshwater flooding and from wind that downed trees and power lines and damaged roofs.¹ Preliminary estimates in Galveston County counted 5 homes destroyed, 22 with major damage and 49 with minor damage.² NWS Lake Charles reports considerable wind and flood damage in Jefferson and Orange counties, including some damage to structures.³ NHC counts one direct death, in Bridge City, Texas, and puts total property damage at about $50 million.¹