The year 2023 was not only the hottest year since 18501 but it was a particularly expensive time for storm damage, mainly because of hail. In fact, hail of at least 1 inch fell over 10 million homes and apartment buildings in the U.S. from mid-March through November. Texas led the nation in the number of buildings damaged2.
North Austin and Round Rock residents were hit by a hailstorm in August that severely damaged my roof. In September both Travis and Williamson Counties suffered the costliest hail damage. Insurance companies in Texas are raising the costs to protect their businesses in vulnerable states.
Who suffers? Common people who must pay high insurance or are left with options that degrade lives. Climate change intensifies storms that increase damages. Ask your lawmakers to take actions to reduce global warming from fossil fuels, transition to clean energy future and improve well being of Texans.
Kalpana Sutaria
Project Manager, City of Austin and Member, Austin Metro Chapter, Citizens’ Climate Lobby
Submitted to the Austin American-Statesman
May 2024
References
- Robert Rohde, Global Temperature Report for 2023 (2024).
- KVUE, No doubt about it, 2023 was a “hail” of a year (March 8, 2024).