When big storms hit Houston last spring and summer, the loss of power was a nightmare for residents, but for many financial relegation was equally devastating. A new report from the Urban Research Institute of Urban Rice University reveals that more than half of the workers in the area of Houston lost income due to these storms, either because they could not come to work or were forced to close their jobs.
More than 90% of the Houston and Harris County population lost the power, some for days, and almost 8 out of 10 had to throw out spoiled food, sometimes more than once. On top of that, approximately half of all residents have reported damage to its homes or property, adding to the financial stress. For many of these storms, they did not only cause temporary failures-they have made long-term financial challenges.
“The widespread experience of electricity disappearance, loss of municipal services and damage to homes and assets was something we expected in this study because we lived through it,” said Daniel Potter, director of the Houston Research Center at the Kinder Institute. “But with many loss of hundreds of dollars of spoiled food and then loss of income – it is a complex effect that can make it even more difficult to recover.”
Other key findings include:
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About 6 of 10 inhabitants reported on combined food loss from both events of about $ 500.
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Over two -thirds of the inhabitants reported that in some way they were influenced by their health.
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About half of the inhabitants suffered damage at home or property of one of the storms and approximately 1 in 7 experienced vehicle damage.
While FEMA and other agencies have monitored physical damage from these storms, the new Kinder Institute’s report, “2024 Storm influence and Harris district: descriptive examination”, examines cumulative influences, including damage to property and effects on health and finance of the inhabitants.
“Before these storms, we knew that almost half of the Houston residents said they would fight to reach $ 400 to cover unexpected costs,” Potter said. “A storm wiping hundreds of dollars of groceries is an example of an unexpected expense.”
Since the Houston Storm season is approaching and a hurricane season just around the corner, these findings can help officers and efforts for preparation better understand last year’s widespread effects.
In addition to FEMA assistance in households affected by disasters – which was more than $ 1 billion for those affected by Derecho and Beryl – the Texas Commission for the workforce provides unemployment in counties within the presidential declaration of disactions.
“While Houston and Harris district is preparing for the next disaster – because it is not a matter of it, but when it will happen – additional research is needed to further understand the differences in influences on the neighbors and the community so that resources can quickly deploy where it will be necessary,” Potter said.
The study was conducted on over 5,000 Harris County inhabitants in July 2024.
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