Why Texas Is So Vulnerable to Climate Disasters: QuickTake

Texas is reeling from floods that have killed more than 130 people and caused an estimated $18 billion to $22 billion in damage.

It’s the latest in a string of climate disasters to hit the state hard, including 2017’s Hurricane Harvey, which left Houston underwater, the 2021 deep freeze that knocked out the state’s power grid, and multiple severe weather outbreaks last year that caused billions of dollars in losses.

The destructive episodes have highlighted the state’s exceptional vulnerability to climate disaster, as its geography, large size and, climate experts say, certain policy decisions expose the population to ...