The 2008 Hurricane season will enter the record books as the second costliest in history, second only to the 2005 season that included Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This season is also the only on record that recorded a major hurricane in five consecutive months: Bertha (July), Gustav (August), Ike (September), Omar (October) and Paloma (November).
To date, the U.S. death toll for the season stands at 982 people. Ike was the most deadly and costliest of the hurricanes in 2008. It struck near Galveston, Texas as a Category 2 storm. However, the size of Ike produced huge waves and an enormous storm surge that would be expected from a Category 4 Hurricane.
Waves, winds and storm surge decimated the Gulf Coast from Freeport, Texas to east-central Louisiana. In the affected areas, homes and businesses were devastated and infrastructure destroyed. Many homes in surge areas disappeared completely or were filled with mud and rotting fish rendering them uninhabitable.
The recovery from the 2008 Hurricane Season will be lengthy and challenging. We hope you will consider helping local United Ways and their community partners address the enormous needs in the affected areas.
To make monetary donations visit:
- United Way 2008 Hurricane Season Recovery Fund
- Louisiana Association of United Ways
- United Ways of Texas
- Individual disaster-related funds at local United Ways







