Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
1936 - Hurricane Hits Coastline Near Corpus Christi - Refinery Is Badly Damaged At Ingleside

70-Mile Wind Blows
Surprise Storm Causes No Loss of Life

Corpus Christi, June 27 (AP) - A small but intense tropical disturbance struck the south Texas coast without warning Saturday, moving inland a short distance north of Corpus Christi around noon and doing considerable damage over a small area.

A survey of the coast line as far north as Rockport, 30 miles northeast of here, showed that apparently the highest winds and the heaviest rains were felt between these two points. No deaths nor serious injuries were reported.

Refinery Damaged
Probably the greatest single loss caused by the storm was at Ingleside, 10 miles northeast of Corpus Christi, where an Humble oil and refining plant was severely damaged, the loss running into thousands of dollars. Three giant cooling towers were demolished putting the refinery out of commission for approximately two weeks.
A few boats were beached at Port Aransas, but the causeway leading from there to the mainland was open to travel tonight, being only slightly damaged.

60 To 70-Mile Wind.
The disturbance formed in the Gulf off Corpus Christi and, accompanied by torrential rains, stirred up winds with a velocity between 60 and 70 miles an hour as it raged inland. Its center apparently crossed the coastline somewhere between Rockport and Seadrift, two small resort towns.

Rainfall at Corpus Christi amounted to 2.26 inches and other cities and towns in the affected area were drenched by similar downpours. Skies cleared at Corpus Christi and the wind dropped to 20 miles an hour during the afternoon.

The barometer was rising at Matagorda, on the eastern border of the endangered sector, standing at 29.89. The wind there switched from northeast to southwest and maintained a velocity of 40 miles an hour for some time.

Warnings Lowered
All warnings were lowered along the Texas coast at 2 p.m., after the hurricane passed inland at noon attended by what the weather bureau said were “winds of about hurricane force over a very small area near center.” Storm winds were reported as far north as Houston.

The weather bureau advised that the disturbance was diminishing rapidly in intensity.

The tide at Corpus Christi rose three and a half feet and there was slight inundation near the Nueces by causeway at the height of the storm. One or two summer camps on the lowest ground washed out but residents had moved to safer ground and there were no deaths.
Telephone lines were blown down and communications disrupted during the hurricane’s landward movement.

Port Arthur News
Port Arthur, Texas
June 28, 1936

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