Texas, the most disaster-prone US state, consistently fails to implement preventive measures against extreme weather events like floods, hurricanes, and heatwaves, despite their increasing frequency and intensity due to climate change. This inaction is attributed to the state's political culture of rugged individualism, disdain for government action, and the influence of the fossil fuel industry, as highlighted by recent deadly floods.
The Texas way: why the most disaster-prone US state is so allergic to preparing for disasters
Greg AbbottTexasFloodingUnited StatesExtreme weather
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Texas, the most disaster-prone US state, consistently fails to implement preventive measures against extreme weather events like floods, hurricanes, and heatwaves, despite their increasing frequency and intensity due to climate change. This inaction is attributed to the state's political culture of rugged individualism, disdain for government action, and the influence of the fossil fuel industry, as highlighted by recent deadly floods.
Trending- 1 1980-2024: Texas recorded 190 extreme weather events, each causing over $1bn in damage.
- 2 2008: Hurricane Ike battered the Texan coast.
- 3 2010-2025: Texas population grew by 5 million to 30 million.
- 4 2021: Winter Storm Uri struck Texas, causing power grid failure and over 200 deaths.
- 5 2022: Dallas hit by colossal floods.
- 6 A few months ago (2025): Bill HB 13 to improve emergency alerts was killed in state senate.
- 7 Fourth of July weekend (2025): Tragic flash floods in Hill Country, killing over 120 people.
- Over 120 deaths from recent flash floods
- Continued vulnerability to extreme weather events (hurricanes, heat, drought, floods, wildfires)
- Strain on resources due to rising population
- Economic damage from disasters (over $1bn per event)
- Risk of rolling blackouts (e.g., repeat Uri)
- Lack of adequate warning systems
What: Texas's consistent failure to prepare for extreme weather disasters despite being the most disaster-prone US state, and the political and ideological reasons behind this inaction.
When: Published July 13, 2025. Recent flash floods occurred over the Fourth of July weekend (2025). Mentions 2021 (Winter Storm Uri), 2008 (Hurricane Ike), 1980-2024 (disaster statistics), 2022 (Dallas floods).
Where: Texas, specifically Hill Country, Kerr County, Guadalupe River, Houston, Galveston Bay, Dallas, Austin.
Why: The state's political culture (rugged individualism, small government, deregulation), skepticism of climate change science, and the influence of the fossil fuel industry lead to a reluctance to invest in preventive measures.
How: By prioritizing recovery over prevention, rejecting bills for warning systems due to cost, and maintaining an eccentric power grid, despite repeated catastrophes and expert warnings.