Texas has seen nothing but rain this past week, leading to flash floods across the state. Power has been knocked out, flash floods have wreaked havoc across Texas, and traffic has stalled, CNN reported.
The floods have affected families, too. ABC News reported Tuesday that one mom was swept away by the torrential rain and is still missing. A star student-athlete also died because of the storm, according to CNN.
To help keep your families safe, here are five facts about the Texas floods to help protect you from flooding in the future:
Texas has poor flood safety, which may mean families are uninsured.
The damage to Texas is likely because of its poor flood safety infrastructure, according to CityLab. In fact, Texas ranks as the worst state for flood control spending, CityLab reported. The state also doesnt participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. If your community does participate in NFIP, then you are eligible to buy flood insurance, according to the NFIP. This means potentially many homes in Texas are uninsured and wont receive help for the damages.
Texas business are getting hit hard
Businesses have already started feeling the effects of the flooding, according to KXAN, a Texas news station. Business owners had to protect their property from the rushing water, including one owner who had to bring his products to higher ground so they could avoid getting wet, according to KXAN. Other owners said the water came so quickly they couldnt prepare to keep their property safe, according to MyFoxAustin. Floods can be disastrous for businesses. The NFIP reported that 25 percent of businesses who close after natural disaster events, like floods, never reopen. And for those that do, the average insurance claim is around $89,000.
The Texas floods are extremely severe, but not unheard of
CNN reported that 400 homes were washed away in Hays County, which is close to the states capital, Austin. Overall, more than 4,000 properties suffered damage from the flooding, CNN reported. During a set of Midwestern flash floods in 2011, nearly 2,500 properties sustained damage, according to the National Weather Service. Flash foods are one of the most common natural disasters in the United States, and can happen in any neighborhood at any point during the year, according to the NWS.
Texas needs volunteers and donations
You can help Texas victims, no matter where you are in the country, through donations and volunteer work. The Austin American-Statesmen has a list of places where you can donate money to help, including the Austin Disaster Relief Network, the American Red Cross of Central Texas and United Way of Greater Austin. The Red Cross is looking for volunteers to help aid flood victims.
Your family can learn from the Texas floods
Floods are the No. 1 natural disaster in the United States. In fact, your home is more likely to be damaged by a flood than a fire, according to the National Flood Insurance Program. But there are steps you and your family can take to stay safe, which are readily available at Ready, a government website that helps people understand the dangers of natural disasters. Ready.gov encourages families to build an emergency kit and be aware of the flood hazard areas in their communities. Its also important to have a family communication plan, according to Ready.
The floods have affected families, too. ABC News reported Tuesday that one mom was swept away by the torrential rain and is still missing. A star student-athlete also died because of the storm, according to CNN.
To help keep your families safe, here are five facts about the Texas floods to help protect you from flooding in the future:
Texas has poor flood safety, which may mean families are uninsured.
The damage to Texas is likely because of its poor flood safety infrastructure, according to CityLab. In fact, Texas ranks as the worst state for flood control spending, CityLab reported. The state also doesnt participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. If your community does participate in NFIP, then you are eligible to buy flood insurance, according to the NFIP. This means potentially many homes in Texas are uninsured and wont receive help for the damages.
Texas business are getting hit hard
Businesses have already started feeling the effects of the flooding, according to KXAN, a Texas news station. Business owners had to protect their property from the rushing water, including one owner who had to bring his products to higher ground so they could avoid getting wet, according to KXAN. Other owners said the water came so quickly they couldnt prepare to keep their property safe, according to MyFoxAustin. Floods can be disastrous for businesses. The NFIP reported that 25 percent of businesses who close after natural disaster events, like floods, never reopen. And for those that do, the average insurance claim is around $89,000.
The Texas floods are extremely severe, but not unheard of
CNN reported that 400 homes were washed away in Hays County, which is close to the states capital, Austin. Overall, more than 4,000 properties suffered damage from the flooding, CNN reported. During a set of Midwestern flash floods in 2011, nearly 2,500 properties sustained damage, according to the National Weather Service. Flash foods are one of the most common natural disasters in the United States, and can happen in any neighborhood at any point during the year, according to the NWS.
Texas needs volunteers and donations
You can help Texas victims, no matter where you are in the country, through donations and volunteer work. The Austin American-Statesmen has a list of places where you can donate money to help, including the Austin Disaster Relief Network, the American Red Cross of Central Texas and United Way of Greater Austin. The Red Cross is looking for volunteers to help aid flood victims.
Your family can learn from the Texas floods
Floods are the No. 1 natural disaster in the United States. In fact, your home is more likely to be damaged by a flood than a fire, according to the National Flood Insurance Program. But there are steps you and your family can take to stay safe, which are readily available at Ready, a government website that helps people understand the dangers of natural disasters. Ready.gov encourages families to build an emergency kit and be aware of the flood hazard areas in their communities. Its also important to have a family communication plan, according to Ready.
