Texas on track for record-breaking year of billion-dollar natural disasters

   

The Lone Star State is experiencing an unprecedented year of natural disasters, with 16 events causing at least $1 billion in damages each so far in 2024. This matches the total from 2023, and with peak hurricane season, fall severe weather, and winter storms still to come, Texas is likely to break this dubious record.

Billion-dollar disaster events in Texas
Natural disasters that cause at least $1 billion in damages have become more common in Texas, even when adjusting for inflation.National Centers for Environmental Information

Hurricanes have historically caused the most damage among natural disasters in Texas since 1980, with projections of $200 to $300 billion worth of damage. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey alone caused between $100-200 billion in damage, accounting for 96% of the total cost of natural disasters that year, making it the costliest year on record.