"When you say 8000 died in Galveston, I wonder what did that means in percetage of people there."
It was a high percentage. Many actually went down to the shore to watch and drowned, which is unthinkable now, but then, they didn't have weather forecasts as such, let alone radar and satellite.
They also went out when the eye passed over thinking it was the end. They got caught when the other side came in.
If you ever get a chance to see the documentary about this don't miss it. It's facinating, not the least of which is the weatherman who lied to cover his rear end after it was over.
But if you are trapped and can't leave, what is the difference if you know it is coming or not?