Hurricane Ike High Water Mark - Schlitterbahn - Galveston, TX
Posted by: 
Raven
N 29° 16.213 W 094° 51.152
15R E 320018 N 3239346
The high-water mark for Hurricane Ike's storm surge on September 13, 2008 at Galveston's Schlitterbahn Waterpark.
Waymark Code: WMMGRA
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 09/18/2014
Views: 3
This high water mark is located at the entrance of the Schlitterbahn Park in Galveston, Texas, and marks the level of storm surge-driven water that came through the entire waterpark during the landfall of Hurricane Ike on September 13th, 2008.
The line on the marker seems to be around 5-6 feet high from the ground's foundation, which itself is about a few feet above street level... in line with the 8 feet reported by other high level water marks sprinkled around town further away in Galveston's historic downtown district. The height is quite impressive since:
* The water was pushed over a 17 tall seawall (Ike's storm surge at Galveston has been pegged at 22 feet)
* Schlitterbahn is located on the supposedly "protected back side of the island", much closer to the bay side where it would supposedly be easier for the water to re-disperse after breaching the seawall located over a mile away.
The entire waterpark suffered considerable damage and remained closed for cleanup and repairs the rest of the Fall and Winter that year, then eventually re-opened in March 2009 with a complete make-over.
Natural or man made event?: Natural
What type of marker?: wall plaque
When did this occur?: September 13, 2008
Website related to the event..: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
A picture showing the level along with any markers telling of what had occurred can be used. Better yet would be a picture of you or someone standing next to the high level mark, that would show if you would have been just wading or completely submersed.