Final answer:
The claim that the 1919 Corpus Christi hurricane was the deadliest in Texas history is false. The 1900 Galveston hurricane holds this grim record, with an estimated 8,000 deaths. Galveston's response to its disaster set an example for disaster management and infrastructure improvements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the greatest natural disaster in Texas history in terms of lives lost occurred at Corpus Christi in 1919 is false. The most deadly natural disaster in Texas, and indeed American, history was the 1900 hurricane that struck Galveston, which resulted in the loss of an estimated 8,000 lives. This tragedy led to significant changes in local government, with Galveston adopting a commission system to improve efficiency and disaster response. The city further undertook major engineering projects to raise the land and build a seawall to protect against future storms. In contrast, the hurricane that hit Corpus Christi in 1919 did not result in a loss of life on the same scale. Moreover, more recent events like Hurricane Katrina in 2005 also saw significant loss of life, with fatalities numbering around 2,000 people across the Gulf Coast, highlighting the devastating potential of natural disasters in the region.