Flood Fatalities and Injuries in Texas

Purpose: This study examined flood fatalities and injuries that occurred in Texas between 1960 and 2008. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) considers flooding “America's Number One Natural Hazard”. Despite flood management efforts in many communities, U.S. flood damages remain high, due, in large part, to increasing population and property development in flood-prone areas. Floods are the leading cause of fatalities related to natural disasters in Texas and are considered as a serious health threat by Texas Department of State Health Services. Texas leads the nation in flash flood fatalities. There are three times more fatalities in Texas (840) than the following state Pennsylvania (265). Study Question: Determine the location and characteristics of flood victims in Texas and the inconsistencies in databases on flood victims. Methods: Flood fatality statistics were extracted from three sources: flood fatality databases from the National Climatic Data Center, the Spatial Hazard Event and Loss Database for the United States, and the Texas Department of State Health Services. The data collected for flood fatalities include the date, time, gender, age, location, and weather conditions. Results/Conclusions: Inconsistencies among the three databases were identified and discussed. Analysis reveals that most fatalities result from driving into flood water (about 77%). Spatial analysis indicates that more fatalities occurred in counties containing major urban centers. Hydrologic analysis of a flood event that resulted in five fatalities was also performed.