The floods in Texas have claimed lives, destroyed homes and property, washed out bridges and roads. On the other hand, observes Dennis Mersereau, at least that crippling drought is history. 20 inches of rain fell on Texas in the past month, a volume of water that’s enough to turn Rhode Island into a lake.
Texas is prone to gully-washers and toad-stranglers, thunderstorms that turn washes and arroyos into rivers, and rivers into inland seas. Every couple of decades there’s a big one, but in the past 20 years Texas gained about 10 million new residents, and many bought houses. The big problem with the resulting housing boom: New housing built in flood-prone areas.
More:
“In Texas, the Race to Build in Harm’s Way Outpaces Flood-Risk Studies and Warming Impacts,” Andrew C. Revkin, New York Times
“Texas Is Paying the Price for Its Lack of Flood Infrastructure,” Kriston Kapps, CityLab
Related:
“Texas, Oklahoma Floodwaters Contain Sewage, Other Pollutants,” Jane J. Lee, National Geographic News
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