View source for Hurricane Alicia

{{Short description|Category 3 Atlantic hurricane in 1983}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox weather event
| image = Alicia 1983-08-17 2330Z.png
| caption = Alicia at Category&nbsp;2 intensity while rapidly intensifying off the Texas coast on the afternoon of August&nbsp;17
| formed = {{start date|1983|08|15}}
| extratropical = August 20, 1983
| dissipated = {{end date|1983|08|21}}
}}{{Infobox weather event/NWS
| winds = 100
| pressure = 962
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year = 1983
| fatalities = 21
| damage = 3000000000
| areas = Texas (particularly the [[Greater Houston]] area), [[Central United States]]
| refs = 
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = [[1983 Atlantic hurricane season]]
}}

'''Hurricane Alicia''' was a small but powerful [[tropical cyclone]] that caused significant destruction in the [[Greater Houston]] area of [[Southeast Texas]] in August&nbsp;1983. Although Alicia was a relatively small hurricane, its track over the rapidly growing [[metropolitan area]] contributed to its $3&nbsp;billion damage toll, making it the [[list of costliest Atlantic hurricanes|costliest Atlantic hurricane]] at the time. Alicia spawned from a disturbance that originated from the tail-end of a [[cold front]] over the northern Gulf of Mexico in mid-August&nbsp;1983. The cyclone was named on August&nbsp;14 when it became a tropical storm, and the combination of weak steering currents and a conducive environment allowed Alicia to quickly intensify as it drifted slowly westward. On August&nbsp;17, Alicia became a hurricane and continued to strengthen, topping out as a [[List of Category 3 Atlantic hurricanes|Category&nbsp;3 major hurricane]] as it made [[landfall]] on the southwestern end of [[Galveston Island]]. Alicia's [[eye (cyclone)|eye]] passed just west of [[Downtown Houston]] as the system accelerated northwestwards across [[East Texas]]; Alicia eventually weakened into a remnant [[low-pressure area|area of low pressure]] over [[Oklahoma]] on August&nbsp;20 before they were last noted on August&nbsp;21 over eastern [[Nebraska]].

Alicia was the first hurricane to make landfall on the United States since [[Hurricane Allen]] struck [[South Texas]] in August&nbsp;[[1980 Atlantic hurricane season|1980]] over three years prior, ending the longest period of the twentieth century without a landfalling hurricane on the U.S. coast. Alicia's approach precipitated the evacuation of 60–80&nbsp;thousand people from coastal communities along the coasts of Southeast Texas and [[Louisiana]]. Along the coast, a {{convert|12|ft|m|abbr=on}} [[storm surge|storm tide]] flooded communities, with the rough surf sinking several ships and resulting in three offshore fatalities. Most of the damage attributed to the storm was caused by strong winds estimated to have peaked at 130&nbsp;mph (210&nbsp;km/h) in southwestern Galveston Island. Alicia was the first major hurricane to form in the Gulf of Mexico since [[Hurricane Anita]] of [[1977 Atlantic hurricane season|1977]].

Widespread damage was wrought in [[Galveston]] and [[Houston]], where thousands of homes were destroyed. In Downtown Houston, nearly all skyscrapers saw the loss of approximately half of lower-level windows, littering the urban streets with debris. Widespread power outages and flooding impacted much of Southeast Texas, with observed rainfall totals peaking at {{convert|9.95|in|mm|abbr=on}}. In addition to the strong winds, rough surf, and heavy rain, Alicia also generated 22&nbsp;tornadoes centered around the Houston–Galveston area; most were [[Fujita scale|rated]] F0, but the strongest, an F2, tore through [[Corsicana]] further north.

The impacts of Alicia tapered inland past the point of landfall, though the weakening system still produced damaging winds and flooding in the [[Dallas]]–[[Fort Worth]] metroplex and [[Oklahoma]]; light rain associated with Alicia was observed as far north as [[Michigan]]. In total, Alicia caused 21&nbsp;fatalities and 7,288&nbsp;injuries.

==Meteorological history==
{{Storm path|Alicia 1983 track.png}}
The origin of Hurricane Alicia can be traced to a [[weather front|frontal boundary]] that extended from [[New England]] to the [[Gulf of Mexico]].<ref name="HurricaneAliciaReportNHC" /> This weak front was initially stationary over the [[Southeastern United States]] but moved slowly southward into the north-central and northeastern fringes of the gulf, producing strong [[convection (meteorology)|convective activity]] beginning on the night of August&nbsp;13, 1983.<ref name="pr1">"Hurricane Alicia Post Storm Report", p. 1</ref> On August&nbsp;14, a small [[low-pressure area|area of low pressure]] developed on the western end of the front and moved off the coasts of [[Mississippi]] and [[Alabama]], intensifying as it progressed further into the open gulf waters.<ref name="pr1" /><ref name="HurricaneAliciaReportNHC" /> The thunderstorms associated with the small low-pressure area—described as a [[mesoscale convective complex]]—aided in the development of additional storms in the northern Gulf of Mexico by facilitating favorable conditions for convective initiation. By the evening of August&nbsp;14, the disturbance had largely separated from the parent frontal trough and continued to organize around a surface-level circulation.<ref name="pr1" /> A [[United States Air Force]] [[Hurricane Hunters|reconnaissance aircraft]] investigated the precursor system and determined that it had developed into a [[tropical depression]] at 12:00&nbsp;[[UTC]] (7:00&nbsp;a.m. [[Central Time Zone|CDT]]) on August&nbsp;15 while {{convert|160|mi|km|abbr=on}} south of [[New Orleans, Louisiana]].<ref name="pub08151930">{{cite web |last1=Gerrish |first1=Hal |title=Preliminary Depression Statement |url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0147-jpg/1983/atlantic/alicia/public/pub08151930z.jpg |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=April 4, 2019 |location=Miami, Florida |format=GIF |date=August 15, 1983 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171045/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0147-jpg/1983/atlantic/alicia/public/pub08151930z.jpg |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} Within six hours of developing, the disturbance intensified further into a [[tropical storm]],{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} attaining the name ''Alicia'' and becoming the hurricane season's first [[named storm]].<ref name="pr2">"Hurricane Alicia Post Storm Report", p. 2</ref> Due to Alicia's formation in a region with [[atmospheric pressure|high environmental pressures]], the storm remained relatively small throughout its lifetime. The presence of a [[ridge (meteorology)|ridge of high pressure]] to Alicia's north steered the nascent tropical cyclone slowly westward in the early part of its development. The ridge eventually drifted eastward, resulting in Alicia slowly curving towards the northwest beginning mid-day on August&nbsp;16.<ref name="HurricaneAliciaReportNHC" />

The storm's slow movement—averaging just 5&nbsp;mph (8&nbsp;km/h)—and lack of strong steering currents allowed Alicia to reap highly favorable conditions characterized by warm [[sea surface temperature]]s in excess of {{convert|84|F|C}} and favorable winds in the upper troposphere due to an [[outflow (meteorology)|upper-level anticyclone]], resulting in unabated intensification until [[landfall]].<ref name="pr2" /><ref name="HurricaneAliciaReportNHC" /> Radar analyses indicated that Alicia was stationary at times as it transitioned to a northwesterly heading.<ref name="pr2" /> An [[eye (cyclone)|eye]] began to emerge on satellite imagery by the afternoon of August&nbsp;16.<ref name="kgwc08162330z">{{cite web |last1=Jimenez |first1=Michael A. |title=Satellite Fix August 16 2230 UTC |url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0147-jpg/1983/atlantic/alicia/satcws/kgwc08162330z.jpg |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=April 5, 2019 |format=GIF |date=August 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407155013/https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0147-jpg/1983/atlantic/alicia/satcws/kgwc08162330z.jpg |archive-date=April 7, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> On August&nbsp;17, Alicia strengthened into a hurricane with its pressure falling at a steady 1&nbsp;[[bar (unit)|mbar]] ([[pascal (unit)|hPa]]; 0.03&nbsp;[[inches of mercury|inHg]]) per hour.<ref name="HurricaneAliciaReportNHC" />{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} At 06:00&nbsp;UTC (1:00&nbsp;a.m. CDT) on August&nbsp;18, Alicia became a major hurricane and made landfall an hour later on [[Galveston Island]]—{{convert|25|mi|km|abbr=on}} southwest of [[Galveston, Texas]]—with [[maximum sustained wind]]s of 115&nbsp;mph (185&nbsp;km/h) and a minimum [[barometric pressure]] of 962&nbsp;mbar (hPa; 28.41&nbsp;inHg) as measured by aircraft reconnaissance,{{Atlantic hurricane best track}}<ref name="pr2" /> making it a low-end [[List of Category 3 Atlantic hurricanes|Category 3]] on the [[Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale]].{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} Alicia was the first hurricane to strike the continental United States since [[Hurricane Allen]] moved ashore [[South Texas]] in August&nbsp;[[1980 Atlantic hurricane season|1980]], ending the longest break in contiguous U.S. hurricane landfalls of the 20th century.<ref name="HurricaneAliciaReportNHC">{{cite web |author1=National Hurricane Center |title=Hurricane Alicia |url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1983-prelim/alicia/prelim01.gif |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=April 3, 2019 |location=Miami, Florida |format=GIF |type=Preliminary Report |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915111259/https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1983-prelim/alicia/prelim01.gif |archive-date=September 15, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="USHurricaneLandfalls">{{cite book |last1=Landsea |first1=Chris |title=Tropical Cyclone Frequently Asked Questions |date=July 31, 2018 |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |location=Miami, Florida |url=https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/E23.html |access-date=April 3, 2019 |format=FAQ |chapter=What is the complete list of continental U.S. landfalling hurricanes? |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402054900/https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/E23.html |archive-date=April 2, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The hurricane was also the first major hurricane to impact the [[Greater Houston]] area since [[Hurricane Carla]] in [[1961 Atlantic hurricane season|1961]].<ref name="pr4" />

[[File:Hurricane Alicia 1983.jpg|thumb|Alicia at peak intensity just after landfall on the morning of August&nbsp;18]]
Alicia weakened as it accelerated northwest into the Texas interior, with the hurricane's center passing just west of [[Downtown Houston]] on the morning of August&nbsp;18 as a Category&nbsp;1 hurricane;{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} the storm was initially slow to weaken as it was able to rein in moist air from the warm Gulf of Mexico.<ref name="pr2" /> Later that day, the continued inhibitory impacts of friction and dry air weakened Alicia to a tropical storm near [[College Station, Texas]],<ref name="pr3">"Hurricane Alicia Post Storm Report", p. 3</ref> and degenerated into a tropical depression early on August&nbsp;19 near the [[Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]].{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} Despite having remained over land for 36&nbsp;hours, Alicia remained well-organized while tracking into [[Oklahoma]] on August&nbsp;20.<ref name="DopplerAliciaOklahoma">{{cite journal |last1=Bluestein |first1=Howard B. |last2=Hazen |first2=Dean S. |title=Doppler-Radar Analysis of a Tropical Cyclone over Land: Hurricane Alicia (1983) in Oklahoma |journal=Monthly Weather Review |date=November 1989 |volume=117 |issue=11 |pages=2594–2611 |doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1989)117<2594:DRAOAT>2.0.CO;2 |bibcode=1989MWRv..117.2594B |doi-access=free }}</ref> The tapering system transitioned into an [[extratropical cyclone]] later that day; these remnants persisted for another day before they were absorbed by a passing [[trough (meteorology)|trough]] over eastern [[Nebraska]] on August&nbsp;21.<ref name="HurricaneAliciaReportNHC" />{{Atlantic hurricane best track}}<!--<ref name="InnerCoreStructure">{{cite journal |last1=Marks |first1=Frank D. |last2=Houze |first2=Robert A. |title=Inner Core Structure of Hurricane Alicia from Airborne Doppler Radar Observations |journal=Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences |date=May 1987 |volume=44 |issue=9 |pages=1296–1317 |doi=10.1175/1520-0469(1987)044<1296:ICSOHA>2.0.CO;2 |url=https://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/pdf/10.1175/1520-0469%281987%29044%3C1296%3AICSOHA%3E2.0.CO%3B2 |publisher=American Meteorological Society |format=PDF}}</ref><ref name="LowLevelKinematic">{{cite journal |last1=Powell |first1=Mark D. |title=Changes in the Low-Level Kinematic and Thermodynamic Structure of Hurricane Alicia (1983) at Landfall |journal=Monthly Weather Review |date=January 1987 |volume=115 |issue=1 |pages=75–99 |doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1987)115<0075:CITLLK>2.0.CO;2 |url=https://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/abs/10.1175/1520-0493%281987%29115%3C0075%3ACITLLK%3E2.0.CO%3B2 |access-date=April 4, 2019 |publisher=Monthly Weather Review |format=PDF}}</ref>-->

==Preparations==
{{See also|Tropical cyclone watches and warnings}}
Hurricane Alicia marked the first time the [[National Weather Service]] provided local interests with landfall probabilities, beginning 60&nbsp;hours before Alicia's eventual landfall.<ref name="HurricaneAliciaReportNHC" /> The new information was generally well received by local officials, though a slight uptick in landfall probabilities for the [[New Orleans]] area was interpreted by a local radio station to have denoted a change in Alicia's course, resulting in the unnecessary transition of two local hospitals to emergency operations.<ref name="pr8">"Hurricane Alicia Post Storm Report", p. 8</ref>  The first gale warnings and [[hurricane watch]]es were issued for the [[United States Gulf Coast]] between [[Corpus Christi, Texas]] and [[Grand Isle, Louisiana]] at 16:00&nbsp;UTC (11:00&nbsp;a.m. CDT) on August&nbsp;16. Coastal areas from Corpus Christi, Texas, to [[Morgan City, Louisiana]] were issued [[Tropical cyclone warnings and watches|hurricane warning]]s shortly after Alicia intensified into a hurricane on August&nbsp;17; these warnings remained until the storm weakened into a tropical storm over East Texas.<ref name="HurricaneAliciaReportNHC" /> The [[National Weather Service]] office in Galveston suspended operations after water began to flood the office at the height of the storm.<ref name="pr5" />

Between 60 and 80&nbsp;thousand people were evacuated from [[Brazoria County, Texas|Brazoria]], [[Chambers County, Texas|Chambers]], [[Galveston County, Texas|Galveston]], and [[Harris County, Texas|Harris]] counties in advance of Alicia, as well as 1,500&nbsp;persons from [[Sabine Pass]].<ref name="pr6" /> Twenty thousand people sought refuge at shelters within Houston.<ref name="sd43" /> Another 6,000&nbsp;evacuated from [[Cameron Parish, Louisiana]]. Offshore oil operations were postponed in preparation for Alicia with the evacuation of 1,360&nbsp;workers, most of whom were from [[Shell Oil Company|Shell]] platforms.<ref name="pr6">"Hurricane Alicia Post Storm Report", p. 6</ref> Initially, however, residents did not take the warnings seriously. Galveston Mayor E. Gus Manuel, against the advice of Texas Governor [[Mark White (Texas politician)|Mark White]], ordered the evacuation of only low-lying areas.<ref name="Time">{{Cite magazine |last=Isaacson |first=Walter |author-link=Walter Isaacson |title=Coping with Nature |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=August 29, 1983 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,949758,00.html |access-date=May 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122080631/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,949758,00.html |archive-date=January 22, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As a result, only 10 percent of the population living behind the seawall chose to leave when Alicia came ashore. In contrast, about 30 percent of Galveston's population evacuated the island when [[Hurricane Allen]] threatened the eastern Texas coastline in 1980.<ref name="USA Today">{{cite news|newspaper=[[USA Today]] |title=Hurricane Alicia, 1983 |publisher=[[Gannett]] |access-date=May 5, 2011 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/weather/huricane/history/walicia.htm |date=August 30, 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912063641/http://www.usatoday.com/weather/huricane/history/walicia.htm |archive-date=September 12, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Throughout the day, however, as the increasing winds began to cause damage in Galveston, people grew more concerned. The mayor finally ordered a widespread evacuation of the island after midnight on August 18, but by then, the bridges to the mainland were uncrossable.<ref name="Time" />

==Impact==
[[File:Alicia 1983 rainfall.gif|thumb|Rainfall swaths from Hurricane Alicia's trek into the Central US Plains and Midwest]]
Hurricane Alicia caused US$3&nbsp;billion in damage, making it the costliest tropical cyclone in U.S. history at the time;<ref name="Costliest">{{cite web |author1=National Hurricane Center |title=Costliest U.S. tropical cyclones tables updated |url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/news/UpdatedCostliest.pdf |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=April 3, 2019 |location=Miami, Florida |date=January 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127083930/https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/news/UpdatedCostliest.pdf |archive-date=January 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> insured losses were estimated at US$700&nbsp;million by the [[American Insurance Association]].<ref name="HurricaneAliciaReportNHC" />  There were 7,288&nbsp;injuries, including 21&nbsp;fatalities and 25&nbsp;hospitalizations.<ref name="HurricaneAliciaReportNHC" /> Despite being a relatively small and low-end Category&nbsp;3 hurricane, the impacts of Alicia were exacerbated in the Houston metropolitan area due to a rapid increase in population, resulting in a rise in potentially susceptible infrastructure that also induced as much as {{convert|10|ft|m|abbr=on}} in land subsidence along some stretches of [[Galveston Bay]].<ref name="pr4" /><ref name="pr5">"Hurricane Alicia Post Storm Report", p. 5</ref>

===Texas===
====Houston and Galveston areas====
Alicia produced a {{convert|12|ft|m|abbr=on}} [[storm surge|storm tide]] that crested along the interior coast of [[Galveston Bay]] near [[Baytown, Texas]].<ref name="HurricaneAliciaReportNHC" /> A 300-home subdivision near Baytown sustained extensive damage to most dwellings.<ref name="pr5" /> [[Seabrook, Texas]] also documented a {{convert|12|ft|m|abbr=on}} storm tide, with slightly lower tide heights of {{convert|7.5|ft|m|abbr=on}} occurring at the [[USS Flagship Hotel|Flagship Hotel]] in Galveston.<ref name="pr4">"Hurricane Alicia Post Storm Report", p. 4</ref> The rough surf eroded as much as {{convert|250|ft|m|abbr=on}} of beach in western parts of Galveston Island.<ref name="PRELOCGLS">{{cite web |author1=National Weather Service Galveston, Texas |title=Preliminary Storm Report |url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0160-jpg/1983/atlantic/alicia/preloc/pshgls08191630z.jpg |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=April 5, 2019 |location=Galveston, Texas |format=GIF |date=August 19, 1983 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407155013/https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0160-jpg/1983/atlantic/alicia/preloc/pshgls08191630z.jpg |archive-date=April 7, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> A recently constructed [[levee]] system protecting [[Texas City]] mitigated potential storm surge damage to the city's extensive industrial infrastructure.<ref name="pr4" /> However, an oil spill resulting from a ruptured tank near Galveston Bay swept through areas near the [[Texas City Dike]].<ref name="pr5" /> A tug capsized {{convert|50|mi|km|abbr=on}} south of Sabine Pass, resulting in one death and the eventual rescue of four crewmembers five days later.<ref name="pr6" /> Another two deaths resulted from the sinking of two shrimp boats in the [[Clear Lake, Texas]] area.<ref name="sd43" /> In total, about 400&nbsp;shrimp boats sustained some form of damage or sunk, resulting in $7&nbsp;million in losses. Major damage was wrought to 80&nbsp;other large vessels.<ref name="sd44">"August 1983", p. 44</ref>

A {{convert|60|-|70|mi|km|abbr=on}} stretch of the Texas coast experienced [[Beaufort scale|hurricane-force]] winds. The strongest gust was reported in Galveston where a 102&nbsp;mph (164&nbsp;km/h) gust was recorded near landfall, though stronger gusts likely occurred over more sparsely populated coastal areas;<ref name="HurricaneAliciaReportNHC" /> no surface observations were documented along southwestern Galveston Island where Alicia made landfall.<ref name="pr3" /> Analysis of structural damage suggested that gusts as high as 130&nbsp;mph (210&nbsp;km/h) were produced by Alicia over land.<ref name="sd43">"August 1983", p. 43</ref> Nearly every structure in [[Galveston County, Texas]] sustained varying degrees of damage from torn roofing to total destruction with the most severe damage occurring in western parts of the county. Telecommunications and power on Galveston Island were downed for several days. The walls of some hotels collapsed and numerous windows facing the wind were blown out.<ref name="pr5" /> Storm surge damaged most buildings in [[Jamaica Beach, Texas]], with 50&nbsp;homes sustaining major damage. Heavy rains nearing {{convert|8|in|mm|abbr=on}} totals on the island caused street flooding and destroyed a mobile home community. Significant wind damage occurred on the inland portions of Galveston County, including damage to schools, apartment complexes, and mobile homes. In [[League City, Texas]], damage was estimated at $100&nbsp;million, largely stemming from roof damage.<ref name="sd43" />

Seven people were killed in [[Harris County, Texas]] as a result of fallen trees, drownings, or automobile crashes. Another 1,530&nbsp;people were injured.<ref name="sd43" /> At Houston's [[William P. Hobby Airport]], sustained winds peaked at 81&nbsp;mph (130&nbsp;km/h) with gusts to 99&nbsp;mph (159&nbsp;km/h).<ref name="HurricaneAliciaReportNHC" /> The airport sustained $1.5&nbsp;million in damage, including damage to several small aircraft, hangars, metal structures, and airport windows.<ref name="sd43" /> Tropical storm-force winds of {{convert|51|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} gusting to {{convert|78|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} at the [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|Houston Intercontinental Airport]]; there, two terminal roofs experienced minor damage and one airplane broke from its ties. Fifty cars on site suffered shattered windows.<ref name="sd43" />  Skyscrapers in [[Downtown Houston]] suffered extensive damage from wind-blown debris accelerated by the narrow spaces between buildings.<ref name="pr6" /> The lower 40&nbsp;floors of most skyscrapers were shattered by wind-blown gravel. Similar debris or water blocked over 20&nbsp;major roads; flooding caused by the widespread {{convert|5|–|8|in|mm|abbr=on}} rainfall was most severe in Baytown, Clear Lake, and [[Pasadena, Texas|Pasadena]] in the eastern part of Harris County, necessitating the rescue of roughly 300&nbsp;people. Thirty of these rescues arose from a single subdivision in Baytown where inundation reached a depth of {{convert|10|ft|mm|abbr=on}}. In these communities, hundreds of homes were flooded. Ninety percent of homes were damaged in [[Crystal Beach, Texas]], of which half were destroyed. Alicia also caused $4.5&nbsp;million in cotton losses and $6&nbsp;million in pecan crop losses in Harris County. Total damage to public property in the county was estimated at $46&nbsp;million. [[Johnson Space Center]] escaped significant damage, though 200&nbsp;nearby trees were toppled by the strong winds and a few facility doors and windows were damaged.<ref name="sd43" />

====Elsewhere in Texas====
[[File:Daños de Alicia 83.jpg|thumb|Possibly tornado- or [[microburst]]-induced damage between [[Hitchcock, Texas|Hitchcock]] and [[Bacliff, Texas|Bacliff]] photographed from a [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] helicopter]]
Relatively less severe damage along the Texas coast between [[High Island, Texas]] and [[Sabine Pass, Texas]] where structures generally sustained roof and window damage but most remained intact. Coastal roads were flooded by storm surge and numerous power lines were downed.<ref name="pr6" /> In [[Chambers County, Texas]], Alicia caused $24&nbsp;million in damage and the loss of 30–50&nbsp;percent of the county's rice and soybean crops. More than 200&nbsp;homes were flooded, forcing residents into shelters. Damage was significant on the southern end of [[Bay City, Texas]], where several homes were destroyed.<ref name="sd43" /> Heavy rains from Alicia caused localized flooding in Southeastern Texas under a wide swath of ≥{{convert|5|in|mm|abbr=on}} rainfall. The highest rainfall totals were largely east of the hurricane's center with a secondary maximum farther east along the Texas–[[Louisiana]] border near [[Orange, Texas]].<ref name="pr4" /> The highest measured rainfall total occurred at Greens Bayou, where {{convert|9.95|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain fell.<ref name="HurricaneAliciaReportNHC" /> The [[Pine Island Bayou]] in [[Hardin County, Texas]] overflowed its banks and adjacent areas remained inundated for a week after {{convert|3|–|5|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain fell across the county. Floodwaters blocked roads in [[Jefferson County, Texas|Jefferson County]] where [[Cow Bayou]] and the [[Neches River]] overflowed their banks. Widespread power outages also impacted the county, affecting over 10,000&nbsp;homes in the [[Port Arthur, Texas|Port Arthur]] and Sabine Pass areas. Similar effects were felt in nearby [[Liberty County, Texas|Liberty County]] where crop damage from the heavy rains and winds amounted to near $10&nbsp;million <ref name="sd44" />

In eastern [[Brazoria County, Texas]], strong winds caused widespread damage to roofs, mobile homes, and automobiles. Damage was also wrought to several aircraft at the [[Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport]] in [[Freeport, Texas]]; damage in the city totaled $1&nbsp;million. Sixty-five percent of structures were damaged in [[Danbury, Texas]]. Extensive power outages affected [[Fort Bend County, Texas]].<ref name="sd43" /> Damage in [[Matagorda County, Texas|Matagorda]] was mostly caused by tidal flooding and winds; 4,500&nbsp;residents evacuated after the storm surge flooded low-lying areas, forcing the closure of two drawbridges crossing the [[Intracoastal Waterway]] connecting the mainland to the [[Matagorda Peninsula]]. Wind-induced rice crop damage was estimated at $3.5&nbsp;million. Elsewhere in East Texas, Alicia's strong winds and heavy rains blocked power and water supplies in several cities. Two people were killed in [[Montgomery County, Texas|Montgomery County]] due to fallen trees.<ref name="sd44" />

The hurricane also produced 22&nbsp;tornadoes across Texas,<ref name="sd42" /> associated primarily with a single strong outer [[rainband]] northeast of Alicia's center;<ref name="METEOROLOGY">{{cite web|publisher=[[United States Army]] |location=[[Washington D.C.]] |year=2007 |access-date=May 5, 2011 |title=Storm Development and History |url=http://chps.sam.usace.army.mil/USHESdata/Assessments/alicia/meteorology.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722183733/http://chps.sam.usace.army.mil/USHESdata/Assessments/alicia/meteorology.htm |archive-date=July 22, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the majority were brief and weak [[Fujita scale|F0]] tornadoes that caused negligible damage.<ref name="sd42" /><ref name="sd44" /><ref name="sd45">"August 1983", p. 45</ref> One F1&nbsp;tornado in Harris County damage two businesses near the intersection of [[Interstate 45]] and [[Texas State Highway NASA Road 1]].<ref name="sd44" /> The strongest tornado was an F2&nbsp;tornado in [[Corsicana, Texas|Corsicana]] that was responsible for a significant proportion of the damage toll in [[North Texas]]. The tornado touched down in the morning of August&nbsp;18 in the western extents of Corsicana and lasted for five minutes on a {{convert|3|mi|km|abbr=on}} track, damaging several buildings including homes, a church, and a horse arena.<ref name="sd42" /> In addition to the F2&nbsp;tornado, the weakening Alicia produced strong winds in North Texas. In [[Panola County, Texas|Panola County]], these winds destroyed outbuildings and downed powerlines and trees in addition to damaging roofs. The weakening storm brought strong thunderstorms over the Dallas–Fort Worth area, bringing gusts estimated between {{convert|80|–|100|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} and causing structural damage throughout the metropolitan area. Some condominiums under construction were destroyed by the winds and trees and powerlines were downed in [[Keller, Texas]] and [[Grapevine, Texas]]. A freeway sign was dislodged and fell upon two 18-wheeler trucks in Dallas, killing the driver of one truck and seriously injuring the driver of the other truck. Creeks swelled following heavy rains, with a local maximum of {{convert|7.48|in|mm|abbr=on}} near [[Mexia, Texas]]. A ten-year-old boy died after he was swept away by a rapidly flowing current.<ref name="sd42">"August 1983", p. 42</ref>

===Elsewhere===
Negligible impacts were felt in Louisiana from Alicia's storm surge.<ref name="pr6" /> Near [[El Reno, Oklahoma]], {{convert|4|–|7|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain fell within a 5-hour period, resulting in significant flooding west of the town. Similar rainfall rates flooded several buildings at the [[University of Oklahoma]].<ref name="sd37">"August 1983", p. 37</ref>

==Aftermath==
The Red Cross provided food and shelter to 63,000 people in the hurricane's wake, costing about $166&nbsp;million (1983&nbsp;USD; ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|166000000|1983}}}} {{#time:Y}}&nbsp;USD).<ref name="HurricaneAliciaReportNHC" /><ref name="Texas Hurricanes of the 80's">{{cite web| author=National Weather Office&nbsp;— Houston-Galveston|year=2007|title=Upper Texas Coast Tropical Cyclones in the 1980s|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |location=[[Dickinson, Texas]]|access-date=April 2, 2007|url=http://www.srh.weather.gov/hgx/hurricanes/1980s.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070328160822/http://www.srh.weather.gov/hgx/hurricanes/1980s.htm|archive-date=March 28, 2007}}</ref> FEMA gave out $32&nbsp;million (1983&nbsp;USD; ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|32000000|1983}}}} {{#time:Y}}&nbsp;USD) to Alicia's victims and local governments; $23&nbsp;million (1983 USD; ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|23000000|1983}}}} {{#time:Y}}&nbsp;USD) of that was for picking up debris spread after the storm.<ref name="Gov"/> More than 16,000 people sought help from FEMA's disaster service centers. The [[Small Business Administration]], aided with 56 volunteers, interviewed over 16,000 victims, and it was predicted that about 7,000 loan applications would be submitted. The Federal Insurance Agency had closed over 1,318 [[flood insurance]] cases from Alicia's aftermath, however only 782 received final payment.<ref name="Gov"/>

On September 23 and September 24, 1983, in the wake of Alicia, two subcommittees of the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] held hearings in Houston. The hearing on September 23 were to examine the primary issues of the NWS during Alicia, the effectiveness of the NWS in current procedures, and the use of the NWS. The second hearing, which occurred on September 24, was to discuss the damage and recovery efforts during Alicia.<ref name="Gov"/> During the September 23 hearing, witnesses agreed that the NWS did well before and during the emergency caused by Alicia. NWS forecasters also testified in which they said they gratified themselves that their predictions were well "on target" and that the local emergency plans had worked so well, which saved many lives. Mayor Gus Manuel on Galveston claimed that the NWS did an excellent job during Alicia. He was also very impressed about their landfall predictions on August 17.<ref name="Gov"/> During the September 24 hearing, evidence was presented which demonstrated the need for improving readiness to cope with disasters, such as Alicia. Mayor Manuel mentioned that his town needed stronger building codes, which were under review.<ref name="Gov">{{cite web|title=Hurricane Alicia: Prediction, Damage & Recovery Efforts |publisher=Subcommittee on Natural Resources, Agriculture Research and Environment |year=1983 |access-date=May 5, 2011 |url=https://www.loc.gov/law/find/hearings/floods/floods98-81.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915112006/http://www.loc.gov/law/find/hearings/floods/floods98-81.pdf |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Retirement ===
Due to the severe damage caused by the hurricane, the name ''Alicia'' was [[list of retired Atlantic hurricane names|retired]] in the spring of 1984 by the [[World Meteorological Organization]], and will never be used again for another Atlantic tropical system.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names|url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames_history.shtml|publisher=National Hurricane Center|location=Miami, Florida|access-date=April 4, 2024}}</ref> It was replaced with ''Allison'' for the [[1989 Atlantic hurricane season|1989 season]].<ref>{{cite report|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/Publications/NatHurricaneOpsPlans/NHOP1989.pdf|page=3{{hyphen}}7|publisher=[[NOAA]] Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research|location=Washington, D.C.|title=National Hurricane Operations Plan|date=April 1989|access-date=April 4, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Lb8sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lxQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4610,13531&dq=1989+atlantic+hurricane+season+names&hl=en|title=4 hurricane predicted for Atlantic in 1989|agency=Associated Press|date=June 1, 1989|newspaper=[[Star-News]]|access-date=May 5, 2011|location=Wilmington, North Carolina|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126000841/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Lb8sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lxQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4610,13531&dq=1989+atlantic+hurricane+season+names&hl=en|archive-date=November 26, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Texas|Tropical cyclones}}
* [[List of Texas hurricanes]]
* [[List of retired Atlantic hurricane names]]
* [[Timeline of the 1983 Atlantic hurricane season]]
* [[Hurricane Carla]] (1961)
* [[Hurricane Celia]] (1970)
* [[Hurricane Ike]] (2008)
* [[Hurricane Harvey]] (2017)
* [[Hurricane Beryl]] (2024) - The most recent hurricane to have its eyewall pass though Houston and also caused significant destruction to that area
==References==
;Sources
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite journal|author1=National Climatic Data Center |title=August 1983 |journal=Storm Data |date=August 1983 |volume=25 |issue=8 |access-date=April 5, 2019 |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |location=Asheville, North Carolina|url=https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-6F09F790-8401-410E-B06B-3A9B48BC48A1.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407155011/https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-6F09F790-8401-410E-B06B-3A9B48BC48A1.pdf|url-status=dead |archive-date=April 7, 2019}}
*{{cite report|author1=National Weather Service Hurricane Warning Office Slidell, Louisiana |title=Hurricane Alicia Post Storm Report|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|location=Slidell, Louisiana|date=September 9, 1983}}
*{{cite book|last1=Savage |first1=Rudolph P. |last2=Baker |first2=Jay |last3=Golden |first3=Joseph H. |last4=Kareem |first4=Ahsan |last5=Manning |first5=Billy R.|title=Hurricane Alicia, Galveston and Houston, Texas, August 17–18, 1983 |url=https://www.weather.gov/media/hgx/hurricanes/Committee_On_Natural_Disasters_Alicia.pdf |website=National Weather Service Houston/Galveston, Texas |publisher=The National Academies Press |access-date=April 7, 2019 |location=Washington, D.C. |doi=10.17226/19411 |date=1984|isbn=978-0-309-32512-7 }}
{{Refend}}
;Citations
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
  | before = [[Hurricane Agnes|Agnes]]
  | title  = [[List of costliest Atlantic hurricanes|Costliest Atlantic hurricanes on Record]] 
  | years  = [[1983 Atlantic hurricane season|1983]]
  | after  = [[Hurricane Hugo|Hugo]]  
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Retired Atlantic hurricanes}}
{{1983 Atlantic hurricane season buttons}}
{{Category 3 Atlantic hurricanes}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1983 Atlantic hurricane season|Alicia]]
[[Category:Category 3 Atlantic hurricanes|Alicia 1983]]
[[Category:Retired Atlantic hurricanes|Alicia 1983]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Texas|Alicia 1983]]
[[Category:Houston hurricanes|Alicia]]
[[Category:1983 meteorology]]
[[Category:1983 natural disasters in the United States]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Oklahoma|Alicia 1983]]
[[Category:Tropical cyclones in 1983|Alicia]]