Editing Hurricane Allen

{{Short description|Category 5 Atlantic hurricane in 1980}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox weather event
| image = Allen 1980-08-07 1600Z.png
| caption = Allen shortly before its record peak strength in the [[Gulf of Mexico]] on August&nbsp;7
| formed = July 31, 1980
| dissipated = August 11, 1980
}}{{Infobox weather event/NWS
| winds = 165
| pressure = 899
| winds-suffix = (Highest recorded in the Atlantic Ocean)
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year = 1980
| fatalities = 281
| missing = 26
| damage = 1570000000
| areas = [[Lesser Antilles]], [[Puerto Rico]], [[Haiti]], [[Jamaica]], [[Cayman Islands]], [[Yucatán Peninsula]], Northern Mexico, Southern Texas
| refs = 
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = [[1980 Atlantic hurricane season]]
}}

'''Hurricane Allen''' was the strongest [[Atlantic hurricane]] by wind speed on record. An extremely powerful [[tropical cyclone]], Allen affected the [[Caribbean]], eastern and northern Mexico, and South Texas in August 1980. The second tropical depression, first [[Tropical cyclone naming|named storm]], and first hurricane of the [[1980 Atlantic hurricane season]], Allen was the sixth [[List of most intense tropical cyclones|most intense]] Atlantic hurricane on record in terms of [[barometric pressure]]. It was one of the few hurricanes to reach Category&nbsp;5 status on the [[Saffir–Simpson scale]] on three occasions, and spent more time at Category&nbsp;5 status than all but two other [[Atlantic hurricanes]]. Allen is the only hurricane in the recorded history of the [[Atlantic basin]] to achieve sustained winds of 190&nbsp;mph (305&nbsp;km/h),<ref group="nb">All wind speeds in the article are [[maximum sustained wind]]s sustained for one minute, unless otherwise noted.</ref> Until [[Hurricane Patricia]] in 2015, these were also the highest sustained winds in the [[Western Hemisphere]]. Hurricane Allen was also the third strongest tropical cyclone to exist in the [[Gulf of Mexico]] in terms of pressure, behind hurricanes [[Hurricane Milton|Milton in 2024]] and [[Hurricane Rita|Rita in 2005]], respectively.

Throughout its life, Allen moved through the deep tropics on a westerly to northwesterly course through the tropical [[Atlantic Ocean]], [[Caribbean Sea]], and [[Gulf of Mexico]] before making its final [[landfall]] near the [[United States–Mexico border]]. At peak strength, it passed near [[Haiti]], causing hundreds of deaths and heavy damage. After crossing the Gulf of Mexico, Allen weakened as it struck the lower Texas coast, causing high winds, a significant storm surge, and heavy rainfall, which caused damage to [[South Texas]]. Overall, Allen killed at least 281 people and left $1.57 billion in damages (1980 US dollars), mostly in Haiti and the United States. Due to the hurricane's impact, the name ''Allen'' was retired from the six-year revolving list of Atlantic tropical cyclone names in 1981 and replaced by ''Andrew''. The remnants of the storm caused a brief lapse in the [[1980 United States heat wave|heat wave of 1980]] in places like [[Dallas/Fort Worth]], Texas, which had recorded 69 days of {{convert|100|F|adj=on}} heat.

== Meteorological history ==
{{Storm path|Allen 1980 path.png|left|colors=new}}
Allen was an early-season [[Cape Verde-type hurricane]], originating from a [[tropical wave]] that left the [[Africa]]n coastline on July 30. The system [[tropical cyclogenesis|developed]] quickly as it moved westward, becoming a tropical depression the following day. However, the [[National Hurricane Center]] did not initiate advisories on Allen until almost 24 hours later, when it was centered {{convert|1300|mi|km|abbr=on}} east of the [[Windward Islands]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0103-jpg/1980/atlantic/allen/public/pub08012200z.jpg|title=Tropical Depression Advisory Number 1|author=Gilbert Clark|date=August 1, 1980|publisher=[[National Hurricane Center]]|access-date=May 13, 2011}}</ref> Early on August 2, as the depression moved quickly westward towards the Caribbean, it intensified into the first named storm of the 1980 Atlantic hurricane season. Allen [[Rapid intensification|rapidly strengthened]] as it continued westward. By the time an aircraft reconnaissance plane entered the tropical cyclone's center late on August 3, it had already achieved major hurricane status, with maximum sustained winds of {{Cvt|125|mph|km/h|round=5|abbr=on}} and a minimum central pressure of {{Cvt|967|mbar|inHg}}, making Allen a Category 3 hurricane. The storm's central pressure dropped to {{Cvt|951|mbar|inHg|abbr=on}} that night as its eye passed north of [[Barbados]] on August 4.<ref name=report/><ref name=dotgov/>

{{Most intense hurricanes|align=right}}
Allen continued to move quickly westward and entered the Caribbean Sea shortly after passing south of [[St. Lucia]]. Allen's rapid intensification continued during this time, as it was steered by a mid- to upper-level ridge to its north. Shortly before 0000 UTC on August 5, the hurricane's minimum pressure decreased to {{convert|924|mbar|hPa inHg|abbr=on}}, which was noted as equivalent to [[Hurricane David]] in the [[1979 Atlantic hurricane season|previous season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/cdmp/dvd0102-jpg/1980/atlantic/allen/tropdisc/tcd08042100z.jpg|title=Discussion for Hurricane Allen, 5 p.m. EDT, August 4, 1980|author=Miles Lawrence|date=August 4, 1980|publisher=[[National Hurricane Center]]|access-date=May 13, 2011}}</ref> Another reconnaissance aircraft shortly thereafter discovered Allen had become an extremely strong [[Category&nbsp;5 hurricane]], with sustained winds of {{Cvt|180|mph|km/h|round=5|abbr=on}} and a minimum pressure of {{Cvt|911|mbar|inHg|abbr=on}} the following day. This was the lowest central pressure ever recorded in the eastern Caribbean Sea.<ref name=dotgov>{{cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/lch/1980Allen|title=Hurricane Allen July 31-August 11, 1980|author=Donovan Landreneau|publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]|access-date=November 26, 2024}}</ref> Allen maintained its extreme intensity for most of the day. However, late on August 5, the storm began to weaken as it underwent an [[eyewall replacement cycle]] and interacted with the mountainous terrain of [[Hispaniola]], with the storm taking a northwestward jog south of the island, a common track deviation for most hurricanes that have passed through the area.<ref name=dotgov/><ref name=report>{{cite news|url=https://www.weather.gov/media/lch/events/1980Allen/1980Allen-NHC%20Report.pdf|title=1980 Allen-NHC Report|publisher=National Hurricane Center|access-date=November 26, 2024}}</ref>

Allen resumed a more westward course as it left behind Hispaniola and passed north of [[Jamaica]] and the [[Cayman Islands]] on August 6. The very warm waters of the northwestern Caribbean Sea allowed the storm to begin another phase of rapid intensification. Allen reached its second and greatest peak intensity on the afternoon of August 7, with maximum sustained winds of {{Cvt|190|mph|km/h|round=5|abbr=on}} and a minimum barometric pressure of {{Cvt|899|mbar|inHg|abbr=on}}.<ref name=report/> Allen had the highest maximum sustained winds ever recorded in an [[Atlantic hurricane]].<ref name="HURDAT"/>  Its minimum pressure of 899 millibars was the second-lowest pressure on record for the basin at the time. The major hurricane was also very large at this time, with hurricane-force winds extending {{Cvt|144|mi|km|abbr=off}} from its [[eye (cyclone)|center]] and [[gale|tropical-storm-force]] winds extending 345 miles.<ref name=dotgov/> Allen's circulation filled nearly the entire Gulf of Mexico, and was regarded at the time as the second-largest Atlantic hurricane on record, after 1961's [[Hurricane Carla]].<ref name=Morning/> Continuing westward, the southern portion of Allen's circulation passed over the [[Yucatán Peninsula]], causing the cyclone to weaken again. Allen bottomed out with winds of {{Cvt|130|mph|km/h|round=5|abbr=on}} on August 8.<ref name=dotgov/> Continued movement west over the warm waters of the [[Gulf of Mexico]] allowed Allen to restrengthen into a Category&nbsp;5 hurricane for a third time as it moved over the open waters of the Gulf. The hurricane's central pressure dropped back to a tertiary low of {{convert|909|mbar|hPa inHg|abbr=on}}. Pressure falls over the southern [[United States]] at this time indicated Allen would soon slow its forward motion as it approached [[Texas]].<ref name=report /> Allen's forward speed slowed considerably in the hours before it made landfall near [[Brownsville, Texas|Brownsville]] as a low-end Category 3 major hurricane on August 10.<ref name=dotgov /> The storm rapidly weakened as it moved inland, eventually dissipating over the mountainous terrain of northern Mexico the following day.<ref name=report/>

== Preparations ==
[[File:Allen 1980-08-08 2230Z.png|thumb|left|Hurricane Allen in the Gulf of Mexico on August 8.]]
As Allen approached the [[Caribbean Sea]], [[gale]] warnings and a [[hurricane watch]] were issued for the islands of [[Barbados]], St. Lucia, [[Saint Vincent (island)|St. Vincent]], [[Dominica]], [[Grenada]], [[Martinique]], and [[Guadeloupe]] during the daylight hours of August 3. Gale warnings were in effect for [[Antigua]] from 11&nbsp;am on August 3 until 11&nbsp;am on August 4. Hurricane warnings were raised for Barbados, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Martinique, and Dominica from the early afternoon of August 3 until the late morning of August 4. As Allen moved into the Caribbean sea, hurricane watches were issued for southeastern sections of the [[Dominican Republic]] and the southwestern peninsula of Haiti from 11&nbsp;am on August 4 until the morning of August 5. Gale warnings were then in effect for the southern Dominican Republic from the night of August 4 into the night of August 5, while southern Haiti maintained the warnings from the night of August 4 into the morning of August 5. The hurricane watch was issued for Jamaica during the morning hours of August 5, while hurricane warnings were raised for the southwest peninsula of Haiti from the late morning of August 5 into the morning of August 6.<ref>{{cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1980-prelim/allen/prelim03.gif|title=Hurricane Allen Tropical Cyclone Report Page 3|publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]|year=1980|access-date=February 16, 2010|author-link=National Hurricane Center}}</ref>  Hurricane warnings went into effect for Jamaica from around noon on August 5 until late in the afternoon of August 6. The [[Cayman Islands]] saw hurricane watches issued from the afternoon of August 5 into the morning of August 6 before the watches were upgraded to hurricane warnings from the morning until late afternoon of August 6.<ref name="pg4"/>

As Allen approached the Gulf of Mexico, hurricane warnings were raised for the northeast Yucatán peninsula of Mexico from the afternoon of August 6 into the morning of August 8. Gale warnings were in effect for the [[Florida Keys]] from the evening of August 6 into the early morning of August 8. As Allen approached its final landfall, the northeast Mexican coast and Texas coast were placed under a hurricane watch from the morning of August 8 until the morning of August 9 for Mexico and the afternoon of August 9 for Texas. [[tropical cyclone warnings and watches|Hurricane warning]]s were posted for the Texas coast during the afternoon of August 8, and were lowered north of [[Freeport, Texas]] during the afternoon of August 9 and south of Freeport during the afternoon of August 10. Gale warnings and a hurricane watch were issued for the [[Louisiana]] coast from [[Vermilion Bay (Louisiana)|Vermilion Bay]] westward from the afternoon of August 8 into the afternoon of August 9. Hurricane warnings were in effect for northeast Mexico from the early afternoon of August 9 into the late afternoon of August 10. Hurricane warnings were downgraded to gale warnings between [[High Island, Texas]] and Freeport, Texas between the late afternoon of August 9 and the late afternoon of August 10. Hurricane watches were dropped for the Louisiana coast during the late afternoon of August 9. Hurricane warnings were downgraded to gale warnings for the lower Texas coast south of Freeport from the late afternoon of August 10 into the early morning of August 11.<ref name="pg4">{{cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1980-prelim/allen/prelim04.gif|title=Hurricane Allen Tropical Cyclone Report Page 4|publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]|year=1980|access-date=February 16, 2010|author-link=National Hurricane Center}}</ref>

In addition to the various watches and warnings put in place ahead of Allen's arrival, various international governments took measures to prepare for the hurricane in Haiti. A disaster committee and executive committee to address the aftermath of the storm was formed by Haitian President [[Jean-Claude Duvalier]], the latter of which was headed by members of the Haitian Ministry of Health and Hatian Red Cross, while members of the committees included representatives from the army, [[Pan American Health Organization]] (PAHO), [[United States Agency for International Development]] (USAID), and others. Emergency instructions were issued by the Haitian government to prevent possible increases in [[malaria]] cases following Allen's passage. The United States government made preparations to send personnel, as well as financial and aerial assistance, to Haiti.<ref name="DCR">{{cite report |url=https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PBAAH099.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002213432/https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PBAAH099.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 2, 2021 |title=Disaster Case Report:Haiti - Hurricane Allen |date=August 5, 1980 |publisher=[[Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance]] |access-date=November 26, 2024}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20211002213432/https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PBAAH099.pdf Archived] from the original on October 2, 2021.</ref> In neighboring [[Cuba]], over 200,000 people across seven provinces were evacuated.<ref name=Blade>{{cite news|title=Allen's 185-MPH Winds Hit Yucatan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ij1PAAAAIBAJ&dq=Hurricane+Allen+damage&pg=PA3&article_id=5011,6745504|newspaper=Toledo Blade|publisher=Associated Press|date=August 8, 1980|access-date=December 5, 2024}}</ref>{{rp|p=2}}

Tens of thousands of people evacuated the Texas coast before Allen's landfall, and forecasters advised that all areas within one mile of the coastline be cleared. The [[American Red Cross]] opened 109 shelters across [[Hidalgo County, Texas|Hidalgo County]] and in the city of [[Corpus Christi, Texas|Corpus Christi]].<ref name=Courier>{{cite news|title=Killer Hurricane Heads for Area of Texas Coast|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PEheAAAAIBAJ&dq=Hurricane+Allen+evacuation&pg=PA1&article_id=5920,1860204|newspaper=The Press-Courier|date=August 9, 1980|access-date=November 27, 2024}}</ref> Access to [[Padre Island National Seashore]] was cut off, and all visitors there and residents of [[Galveston Island]] were ordered to evacuate the respective areas. Six thousand people in lower [[Cameron Parish, Louisiana]], 14,000 people in [[Port Lavaca, Texas|Port Lavaca]], and additional residents of the low-lying suburbs of [[Houston]], Texas were ordered to evacuate as well. A total of 2,500 troops were put on alert in Texas prior to the storm's passage.<ref name=Courier/><ref name=Morning>{{cite news|title=Texans flee before rampaging Allen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OvJcAAAAIBAJ&dq=Hurricane+Allen+evacuation&pg=PA1&article_id=4081,1149204|newspaper=The Morning Record and Journal|date=August 9, 1980|access-date=November 27, 2024}}</ref>

== Impact ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" align="right"
|+ Deaths and damage by area
|-
! Country !! Deaths !! Damage !! Source
|-
| Barbados || {{ntsh|0}} None || {{ntsp|6000000||$}} ||<ref name="1980 MWR">{{cite journal|author=Lawrence, Miles B|author2=Pelissier, Joseph M|title=Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1980|journal=Monthly Weather Review|date=July 1, 1981|volume=109|issue=7|pages=1567–1582|doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1981)109<1567:AHSO>2.0.CO;2|publisher=American Meteorological Society|bibcode = 1981MWRv..109.1567L |doi-access=free}}</ref>
|-
| Cayman Islands || {{ntsh|0}} None || ||<ref name="AllenTCR5">{{cite report|title=Hurricane Allen Tropical Cyclone Report Page 5|author=National Hurricane Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date=December 6, 2012|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1980-prelim/allen/prelim05.gif}}</ref>
|-
| Cuba || 3 || ||{{EM-DAT}}
|-
| Dominican Republic || {{nts|7}} || {{ntsp|47000000||$}} ||<ref name="emdat"/>
|-
| Grenada || {{ntsh|0}} None || {{ntsp|5300000||$}} ||<ref name="emdat"/>
|-
| Guadeloupe || {{nts|1}} || Unknown ||<ref name="AllenTCR5"/>
|-
| Haiti || {{nts|220}} || {{ntsp|400000000||$}} ||<ref name="1980 MWR"/><ref name="AllenTCR6">{{cite web|title=Hurricane Allen Tropical Cyclone Report Page 6|author=National Hurricane Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date = December 14, 2008|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1980-prelim/allen/prelim06.gif}}</ref>
|-
| Jamaica || {{nts|8}} || {{ntsp|100000000||$}} ||<ref name="1980 MWR"/>
|-
| Martinique || {{ntsh|0}} None || {{ntsp|68000000||$}} ||<ref name="emdat"/>
|-
| Mexico || {{ntsh|0}} None || {{ntsh|0}} None ||<ref name="AllenTCR6"/>
|-
| St. Lucia || {{nts|18}} || {{ntsp|235000000||$}} ||<ref name="AllenTCR5"/><ref name="1980 MWR"/>
|-
| St Vincent and The Grenadines || {{ntsh|0}} None || {{ntsp|16300000|3=$}}||<ref name="emdat"/>
|-
| United States || {{nts|6}} || {{ntsp|630000000||$}} ||<ref name="AllenTCR6"/><ref name="1983 Deadly">{{cite report |author3=National Hurricane Center |author=Hebert, Paul J |author2=Taylor, Glenn |archive-date=September 24, 2012 |url-status=live |date=January 1983 |title=The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Hurricanes of This Century (and Other Frequently Requested Hurricane Facts) |type=NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS TPC-18 |access-date=December 2, 2012 |url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/nwstechmemos/techmemo18.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924061413/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/nwstechmemos/techmemo18.pdf |publisher=United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service |page=5}}</ref>
|-
| Offshore || {{nts|17}} || {{ntsp|60000000||$}} ||<ref name="AllenTCR6"/>
|-class="sortbottom"
| Total || {{nts|281}} || {{ntsp|1567600000||$}} ||
|}
Allen caused just over $1&nbsp;billion (1980 USD) in damages and killed at least 281&nbsp;people throughout its course (including indirect deaths).<ref name="AllenTCR5"/><ref name="AllenTCR6"/>

=== Caribbean ===
The island of St. Lucia sustained catastrophic damage from Allen when it was a strong category&nbsp;3 hurricane. Sustained winds of {{convert|90|kn|km/h}} and a [[sea level pressure]] as low as {{convert|967|mbar|inHg}} were reported at Hewanorra. A total of $235 million in damage was incurred on the island.<ref name=Lawrence>{{cite journal|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1980.pdf|publisher=[[American Meteorological Society]]|title=Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1980|journal=Monthly Weather Review|author1=Miles B. Lawrence |author2=Joseph M. Pellisier |volume=109|issue=7|pages=1567–1572|date=July 1981|access-date=February 17, 2010|bibcode=1981MWRv..109.1567L|doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1981)109<1567:AHSO>2.0.CO;2}}</ref> The country's banana crop was devastated, and its main hospital, [[Victoria Hospital (Saint Lucia)|Victoria Hospital]], was left powerless and with part of its roof missing. Much of St. Lucia's telephone lines and other communications were down due to the storm, and foreign governments communicated with the island via [[Amateur radio|ham radio]].<ref name=Telegraph>{{cite news|title=Hurricane Allen zeroes in on Jamaica|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qKArAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane+allen&pg=PA2&article_id=4666,711196|newspaper=The Telegraph|publisher=Associated Press|date=August 5, 1980|access-date=December 2, 2024}}</ref> Eighteen people lost their lives as a result of the storm's passage. One death in Guadeloupe was attributed to Allen.<ref name="AllenTCR5"/>

In Barbados, damages were estimated to be $6&nbsp;million (1980 USD) by local officials, mostly to agriculture, housing and the local fishing industry.<ref name=Lawrence /> The highest recorded winds on the island were 68 knots ({{Cvt|78|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}) on its south side, though Allen likely brought much stronger winds of greater than 100 knots ({{Cvt|115|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}) on the northern part of Barbados under the eyewall of the hurricane. About 500 houses were either damaged or destroyed. No deaths were reported.<ref name=Lawrence /> 20 small boats were destroyed on the island and another 75 sustained damage.<ref name=Telegraph /> In Martinique, damage was extensive as the storm passed {{convert|50|mi|km}} south of the island. Waves {{convert|6|m|ft}} high battered the coast of the island during the storm.<ref>{{cite journal|jstor=4300098|journal=Journal of Coastal Research|volume=15|pages=877–899|title=Trade Wind Intensification and Hurricanes on a Caribbean Beach, Martinique Island: A Comparison of their Morphological Effects From Field Experiments and Numerical Simulations|author1=K. Bosser |author2=F. Levoy |author3=J. C. Flageollet |author4=O. Monfort |author5=H. Rousset |date=Summer 2000|publisher=Coastal Education & Research Foundation, Inc.|issue=3}}</ref> Torrential rainfall caused damage to agriculture on [[Saint Vincent (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)|Saint Vincent]].<ref name=Lawrence /> Despite being located {{Cvt|250|mi|km|abbr=on}} away from Allen's center as it passed to the south, [[Puerto Rico]] saw wind gusts of up to {{Cvt|70|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} due to the hurricane.<ref name=Telegraph />

In the central Caribbean, Cayman Brac was hit by winds in excess of {{convert|115|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} which caused considerable property damage. A [[coral reef]] at Discovery Bay, Jamaica was devastated by the intense waves from the storm.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/CREWS/Cleo/St.%20Croix/salt_river46.pdf|title=Hurricane Hugo's Impact on Salt River Submarine Canyon, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands|author1=Richard B. Aronson |author2=Kenneth P. Sebens |author3=John P. Ebersole |access-date=February 16, 2010|publisher=[[Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory]]|year=2003}}</ref> Offshore Jamaica, greater numbers of smaller-sized [[Damselfish]]es were witnessed in the wake of Allen.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Pre- and post-hurricane assessment of artificial reefs: evidence for potential use as refugia in a fishery management strategy|author1=Robert K. Turpin |author2=Stephen A. Bortone |journal=ICES Journal of Marine Science|volume=59|page=S75|year=2002|doi=10.1006/jmsc.2002.1191|doi-access=free|bibcode=2002ICJMS..59S..74T }}</ref> Much of the capital city [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]] was left without power. Wind speeds of {{convert|100|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} occurred along Jamaica's northern coast where Allen made its closest approach to the island.<ref name=Evening>{{cite news|title=Allen Whirls On|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gmFQAAAAIBAJ&dq=Hurricane+Allen+in+haiti&pg=PA3&article_id=6525,1141551|newspaper=The Evening Independent|publisher=Associated Press|date=August 6, 1980|access-date=December 9, 2024}}</ref> Storm surge and strong waves along Jamaica's northeastern coast damaged buildings, and {{convert|10|in|mm|abbr=on}} to {{convert|20|in|mm|abbr=on}} inches of rainfall was recorded. Eight deaths in Jamaica occurred due to Allen.<ref name=Lawrence /> Three additional deaths were attributed to Allen in Cuba.<ref name="AllenTCR6" /> [[Citrus]] and [[tobacco]] crops were ruined on [[Isla de la Juventud]]. 25,000 exchange students were stuck on the island during Allen's passage. Additional coffee and banana crops across the Caribbean were devastated by the hurricane.<ref name=Blade />

Extensive damage occurred in [[Haiti]] due to high winds and flash [[flood]]ing. Total costs for that country were estimated to be at more than $400&nbsp;million (1980 USD). 2.5 million people were affected by the storm, with an estimated 333,000 people considered at risk for food shortage.<ref name=DCR/>  Roughly 60% of the nation's coffee crop was destroyed. In [[Port-au-Prince]], Allen caused many fallen trees, local flooding, and temporary disruptions to electric power and telephone services.<ref name=DCR/> The island of [[Île-à-Vache]] had its food supply depleted and its entire water supply contaminated with [[salt water]].<ref name=DCR/> At least 140 bodies were recovered from rural areas of the country in the wake of the storm.<ref>{{cite news|title=Allen Leaves Flooding In Its Wake; 140 New Deaths Reported|agency=Associated Press|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=l7haAAAAIBAJ&pg=7002,3286942&hl=en|newspaper=[[Saint Petersburg Times]]|date=August 12, 1980|access-date=February 29, 2012}}</ref> In all, 220&nbsp;people were killed and 835,000 were left homeless by the catastrophic flooding and wind damage Allen caused in Haiti.<ref name=Lawrence />

=== United States ===
[[File:Allen 1980 rainfall.gif|thumb|Hurricane Allen's rainfall across Texas and Mexico]]
In Texas, the [[storm surge]] was reported as high as {{convert|12|ft|m}} at [[Port Mansfield, Texas|Port Mansfield]], though it may have been higher elsewhere along the Texas coast. A peak wind gust of {{convert|129|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} was also measured at Port Mansfield. Tropical storm-force winds in [[Corpus Christi, Texas]] blew roof gravel through the city, which led to substantial glass breakage to the 18-story Guarantee Bank Building and a 12-story wing of Spohn hospital.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.depts.ttu.edu/nwi/Pubs/Reports/D8-10-80%20Hurr%20Allen.pdf |title=Effects of Hurricane Allen on Buildings and Coastal Construction |author1=Joseph E. |author2=Minor P.E. |author3=William L. Beason |author4=Timothy P. Marshall |journal=Fourth National Conference on Wind Engineering Research |year=1981 |access-date=February 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103233849/http://www.depts.ttu.edu/nwi/Pubs/Reports/D8-10-80%20Hurr%20Allen.pdf |archive-date=January 3, 2014 }}</ref> Allen dumped {{convert|15|to|20|in|mm}} of rain in south Texas along a 50 to 100 mile swath of land from the coast inland, ending a summer-long [[drought]] during the [[1980 United States heat wave|Heat Wave of 1980]].<ref name="1980 MWR" /><ref name="NOAA">{{cite web | title=Hurricane Allen|url=http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/allen1980.html|author=David M. Roth|publisher=[[Hydrometeorological Prediction Center]]|date=January 27, 2007|access-date=February 16, 2010}}</ref> The [[Nueces River]] peaked at {{Cvt|39|ft|m}}, {{Cvt|14|ft|m|abbr=on}} above flood level.<ref name=Hour>{{cite news|title=Hurricane Death Toll Passes 270 With Haitian Fatalities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-I4pAAAAIBAJ&dq=Hurricane+Allen+in+haiti&pg=PA2&article_id=3931,1819515|newspaper=The Norwalk Hour|publisher=United Press International|date=August 12, 1980|access-date=December 9, 2024}}</ref>

The storm caused seven deaths in Texas and 17 in [[Louisiana]], most in the latter state resulting from the crash of a helicopter evacuating workers from an offshore oil platform. Allen spawned several tornadoes in Texas; a total of 29 were reported in association with the hurricane.<ref name="1980 MWR" /> One tornado caused an estimated $50&nbsp;million in damage when it hit an airport in [[Austin, Texas]]. Two offshore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico were destroyed by Allen, and 13 people died in the aforementioned helicopter crash during the evacuation of a rig. A total of $600 million in damage was recorded in Texas due to Allen.<ref name="AllenTCR6"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Allen Damage Is Estimated at $600 million|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-Y4pAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane+allen+aftermath&pg=PA2&article_id=4225,2122893|newspaper=The Norwalk Hour|publisher=Associated Press|date=August 13, 1980|access-date=December 9, 2024}}</ref> Overall, however, the storm caused less damage than initially feared in the United States due to its suddenly diminished power, as well as its highest tides and winds hitting a sparsely populated portion of the Texas coast.<ref name="AllenTCR6"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Allen Floods Texas, Fizzles Over Mexico|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rd0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=5601,1399527&dq=hurricane+texas&hl=en|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=August 12, 1980|access-date=February 29, 2012}}</ref>

=== Elsewhere ===
Areas of northeastern Mexico saw heavy [[rain]]s with the passage of Allen, with the highest totals exceeding {{convert|7|in|mm}}.<ref>{{cite web|author=David M. Roth|url=http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/allen1980filledrainblk.gif|title=Storm Total Rainfall From Hurricane Allen (1980)|date=January 15, 2007|access-date=February 16, 2010|publisher=[[Hydrometeorological Prediction Center]]}}</ref> The hurricane earlier brushed the Yucatán Peninsula. As Allen only affected sparsely populated regions of Mexico, there were no reports of significant damage.<ref name="AllenTCR6"/> The [[Panama]]nian freighter ''Georgios G'' went missing on August 5 on the way to [[Belize City]] with 25 people aboard. While information on the ship's fate is incomplete, it was likely intercepted by Allen on its course.<ref name=Lawrence />

== Aftermath ==
{{See also|List of retired Atlantic hurricane names}}
[[File:Corpus Christi TX Ruins after Hurricane Allen 1980.jpg|thumb|The ruins of several buildings in Corpus Christi after Hurricane Allen.]]
In the aftermath of Allen, the [[United States Department of Defense]] announced it would be providing aid to St. Lucia, Haiti and Jamaica. A [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules|C-130]] cargo plane delivered humanitarian supplies and radios to St. Lucia. Two helicopters flew to the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince and three reconnaissance aircraft were sent to Jamaica, all for damage surveys.<ref name=Blade/> Haitian President [[Jean-Claude Duvalier]] declared Haiti's [[Tiburon Peninsula]] a disaster area.<ref name=Evening/> A network of ham radios was utilized to communicate with isolated victims of the hurricane across the eastern Caribbean.<ref>{{cite news|author=Mike Wenland|title=Emergency networks help prove value of radio|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9uBLAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane+allen+aftermath&pg=PA16&article_id=5853,1128338|newspaper=The Free Lance-State|publisher=The Free Lance–Star Publishing Co.|date=September 6, 1980|access-date=December 9, 2024}}</ref> The Haitian Red Cross coordinated aid with other regional Red Crosses, needing supplies and food to support 50,000 people affected by Allen.<ref name=DCR/>{{rp|p=2}} Seeds were distributed to small farm owners to allow for the quick replant of crops lost in the storm. An island off the coast of Haiti with around 7,000 residents in need of urgent aid was reached by the USAID mission, bringing support personnel as well as sump pumps and water purification units to clean wells contaminated by salt water.<ref name=DCR/>{{rp|p=3}} US helicopters transported a total of 108,123 pounds of relief supplies and 10,793 gallons of water to Haiti; following this, all Department of Defense officials withdrew from the country by August 21.<ref name=DCR/>{{rp|p=4}} Concerns of a potential [[malaria]] outbreak due to expanses of standing water led Haiti's anti-malaria office to request the drug chloroquine from the US government. A total of 4.65 million chloroquine tablets were sent to Haiti in August and September 1980. Food-for-work programs organized by the [[Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance|Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance]] (OFDA) and [[Catholic Relief Services]] (CRS) provided reliable food sources for many storm victims and provided additional tools and seeds.<ref name=DCR/>{{rp|p=4–5}} A total of $1 million was made available for 2,300 tons of fertilizer, additional farming tools, and funds for the internal transport of food and the fertilizer. Only $664,963 ended up being spent on this agriculture project.<ref name=DCR/>{{rp|p=5}} A total of $9,534,370 was spent by the US government, $277,853 by private US organizations, $3,649,172 by foreign governments, and $5,675,766 by foreign voluntary agencies (mostly other Red Crosses) on providing aid in the form of direct financial contributions, food, and supplies to Haiti.<ref name=DCR/>{{rp|p=5–9}}

In St. Lucia, Agriculture Minister [[Peter Josie]] announced that 90% of the island's banana crop, 40% of its coconut crop, and 30% of its [[breadfruit]] trees were destroyed by Allen. In response, an emergency plan was implemented for the immediate replanting of vegetable and fruit crops due to the "very bleak" food situation. Josie also called for large investments of capital into rebuilding the severely disrupted shipping industry on the island, as 120 boats had been lost and 32 more damaged.<ref>{{cite news|title=St. Lucia's Food Supply 'Bleak'|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JexLAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane+allen+aftermath&pg=PA29&article_id=6209,4888584|newspaper=The Virgin Islands Daily News|publisher=Daily News Publishing Co.|date=August 25, 1980|access-date=December 9, 2024}}</ref> US President [[Jimmy Carter]] declared six counties in southern Texas major disaster areas on August 11, allowing them to receive federal and state financing for cleanup from Allen. Seven American helicopters and 78 Americans assisted in the search for victims.<ref name=Hour/> Several stranded oil tankers had to be removed from the Gulf of Mexico, running the danger of a potential oil spill.<ref>{{cite news|title=Storm, Aftermath Cause $600 Million Damage|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bXdDAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane+allen+aftermath&pg=PA1&article_id=1850,2377702|newspaper=Middlesboro Daily News|publisher=United Press International|date=August 13, 1980|access-date=December 9, 2024}}</ref> The American Red Cross expected a $2 million expenditure for post-storm relief (as well as to shelter 136,000 evacuees during the storm's climax).<ref>{{cite news|title=Storm damage set at $600 million in Texas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5XVjAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane+allen+aftermath&pg=PA25&article_id=6570,1766078|newspaper=The Telegraph-Herald|publisher=United Press International|date=August 13, 1980|access-date=December 9, 2024}}</ref> Most hotels in southern Texas reported minimal damage from the storm and planned to resume normal operations not long after the storm dissipated. After various tankers were grounded in silt stirred up by the hurricane, the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA) requested the Coast Guard to compile a list of all ships still at sea near southern Texas.<ref>{{cite news|title=Resort Owners Begin to Assess Allen's Damages|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=llpDAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane+allen+clean+up&pg=PA2&article_id=4505,1411874|newspaper=Frederick Daily Leader|publisher=United Press International|date=August 13, 1980|access-date=December 9, 2024}}</ref>

=== Retirement ===
Because of the hurricane's destructive impacts, the [[tropical cyclone naming|name]] ''Allen'' was retired from the Atlantic tropical storm name list by the [[World Meteorological Organization]] in the spring of 1981, and will never again be used for a future Atlantic hurricane.<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 5, 2024}}</ref> It was replaced with ''Andrew'' for the [[1986 Atlantic hurricane season|1986 season]].<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/Publications/NatHurricaneOpsPlans/HOPs-1986.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=May 1986|access-date=April 5, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SLkfAAAAIBAJ&dq=hurricane%20names&pg=2345%2C6380696|title=Andrew, Agatha, top 1986 list|date=May 23, 1986|newspaper=[[The Gadsden Times]]|location=Gadsden, Alabama|agency= Associated Press|access-date=April 5, 2024}}</ref>
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==See also==
{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}}
* [[Timeline of the 1980 Atlantic hurricane season]]
* [[List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes]]
* [[Hurricane Carla]] (1961) – Category&nbsp;4 hurricane that took a similar path
* [[Hurricane Beulah]] (1967) – Category&nbsp;5 hurricane that took a similar path
* [[Hurricane Emily (2005)]] – Category&nbsp;5 hurricane that took a similar path
* [[Hurricane Harvey]] (2017) – Category&nbsp;4 hurricane that took a similar path
* [[Hurricane Beryl]] (2024) – Category&nbsp;5 hurricane that took a similar path

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite journal |last=Marks |first=Frank D. |year=1985 |title=Evolution of the Structure of Precipitation in Hurricane Allen (1980) |journal=Monthly Weather Review |volume=113 |issue=6 |pages=909–930 |doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1985)113<0909:EOTSOP>2.0.CO;2 |bibcode = 1985MWRv..113..909M |doi-access=free }}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080312193021/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/crp/docs/research/hurrhistory/Allen/allen.html National Weather Service - Hurricane Allen]
*[http://ams.allenpress.com/perlserv/?request=get-abstract&doi=10.1175%2F1520-0485(1983)013%3C0117:TWOHAI%3E2.0.CO%3B2 The Wake of Hurricane Allen in the Western Gulf of Mexico]
*[http://www.depts.ttu.edu/weweb/Pubs/pdfs/D8-10-80%20Hurr%20Allen.pdf Effects of Hurricane Allen on Buildings and Coastal Construction]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061008055620/http://www.csc.noaa.gov/hes/images/pdf/HURR_ALLEN80_MET_DATA.pdf Pertinent Meteorological Data for Hurricane Allen of 1980]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg77AVOwuiY KENS-TV (San Antonio) news footage from 1980 of the impact Allen had on Texas]

{{Retired Atlantic hurricanes}}
{{Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes}}
{{1980 Atlantic hurricane season buttons}}

[[Category:1980 Atlantic hurricane season|Allen]]
[[Category:Cape Verde hurricanes|Allen]]
[[Category:Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes|Allen]]
[[Category:1980 meteorology]]
[[Category:1980 natural disasters]]
[[Category:Retired Atlantic hurricanes|Allen]]
[[Category:Natural disasters in the Windward Islands|Allen]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Barbados|Allen]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Saint Lucia|Allen]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Martinique|Allen]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|Allen]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Dominica|Allen]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Guadeloupe|Allen]]
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[[Category:Hurricanes in the Windward Islands|Allen]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in the Leeward Islands|Allen]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Puerto Rico|Allen]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Haiti|Allen]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Jamaica|Allen]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in the Cayman Islands|Allen]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Cuba|Allen]]
[[Category:Hurricanes in Texas|Allen]]
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[[Category:1980 in Cuba]]
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[[Category:1980 in Mexico]]
[[Category:1980 natural disasters in the United States]]
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[[Category:Tropical cyclones in 1980|Allen]]