Weather & Science
Texas Disaster Adds to US Flood Costs That Exceed $200 Billion
Debris along the Guadalupe River following flash flooding in Ingram, Texas, on July 8.
Photographer: Jim Vondruska/Getty ImagesThe deluge in Texas last week ranks as one of the deadliest and costliest flash floods in US history, highlighting the mounting threat to communities that aren’t prepared for extreme rainfall.
It’s too early to know the exact toll of the flooding in Texas, which killed more than 100 people. But a preliminary estimate from AccuWeather Inc. puts the total damage and economic loss at $18 billion to $22 billion, a figure that includes direct and indirect impacts as well as long-term effects on businesses like tourism.