Texas Is The Most Dangerous State In The U.S. For Natural Disasters
The Lone Star State has the bragging rights to being “Number One” at a lot of things, live stock production and oil and natural gas are among them. If you’re curious, you can see a list of Texas’ “number ones” here.
While being number one is usually the ultimate ranking to attain, there’s a “number one” spot no one wants: the number one least safest state in which to live when it comes to natural disasters.
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Earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes...the trifecta of disasters that threaten the great state of Texas.
The map above, from Sperling's Best Places, illustrates with red dots the areas in the U.S. most at risk for these natural disasters. Red dots blanket much of Texas, indicating a hotbed of risk.
Disaster breeds more disaster. The recent flooding in Texas was nothing new for Texans.
Some disasters, even in other states, bring about even more disastrous events. Unfortunately, flooding has occurred all too often in parts of Texas. In June, a state of disaster was declared in 31 counties in Texas.
Leading up to that epic declaration, in one 24-hour period in May, Houston was inundated with a record-breaking 17-inches of rainfall spurring a majar flash flood event.
On the day in May 2016 when this photo was taken, the City of Houston still had no idea of the monumental devastation that lay ahead in the days and weeks to come.
Beyond flooding, as many as thirteen hurricanes have affected Texas in the last 10 years.
And scores of tropical storms and tropical depressions have wreaked havoc in that same period.
Second in size only to Alaska, and bordered on two sides by major bodies of water, Texas has more area in which disasters can occur and is especially vulnerable given its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean.
Given the land mass and the water on two borders, it makes sense that Texas is ranked the number one state least safe from natural disasters. But it doesn’t make it any easier for Texans to assume the heavy responsibility of being number one in natural disaster risks.
Robin Jarvis is a travel and entertainment writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. She spent more than two decades living on the coast in South Carolina and currently lives in the mountains of North Carolina - although she still makes it back to see family in South Carolina quite often. When she's not working, she loves to hike, kayak, and check out new adventures. Get in touch at [email protected]
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