Tropical Storm Elena brought flooding to the Greater Houston area , with five deaths and about $ 10 million in damage . However , little impact was reported elsewhere . Hurricane Henri remained offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and disrupted efforts to stop the Ixtoc I oil spill . Henri also caused flooding in portions of Mexico . In mid and late-September , a tropical depression caused flooding in the Southern United States , especially Texas . Four deaths were reported , two in Texas and two in Kentucky . Toward the end of October , a brief subtropical storm struck Newfoundland , but left little impact . Other than Tropical Depression One and the tropical depression that brought flooding to the Southern United States in mid and late-September , none of the other depressions caused significant effects of land . Collectively , the tropical cyclones of the season resulted in $ 4.12 billion in damage and at least 2,136 deaths . Pacific Storm Blanca originated in the basin
Ixtoc I oil spill
Ixtoc I oil spill
1979 Atlantic hurricane season