Texas has found itself the target of many natural disasters in recent years, but February’s winter storm may turn out to be the most costly of them all. While other disasters have had more localized effects, the storm reached the entire state, causing damage wherever it touched. “All 254 counties will have been impacted in some way by the freeze,” Lee Loftis, director of government affairs for the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, told The Texas Tribune. “That is just unheard of.”
In response to the failures, including the near collapse of the natural gas system and electrical grid, at least partially due to the failure to prepare it for such cold conditions, legislators are looking to take action to add robustness against future threats. This has included a request from Texas Governor Greg Abbott to mandate winterization of generators and power plants. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has also released a list of legislative priorities associated with the response to the storm.
Federal assistance is already available, with Texans across more than 100 counties eligible for applications to FEMA to access a total of up to $50 billion in relief funds.
Source:
https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/25/texas-winter-storm-cost-budget/
