"Rural Texans are more than twice as likely to go without homeowners insurance than their urban peers."

"FRITCH — Many Panhandle residents whose dwellings and possessions burned in the region’s ongoing wildfires may never financially recover for one simple reason: Their homes weren’t insured.

“A lot of the people who have lost a home had no insurance,” Gov. Greg Abbott said at a Friday press conference. “So there are a lot of people in great need right now.”

Texans pay some of the highest homeowners insurance premiums in the country. Increased risk of extreme weather events, at least partially driven by climate change, have driven up those costs. Growth in homeowners insurance rates here outpaced the rest of the nation last year, straining Texans’ ability to pay.

In Texas, those without insurance are also more likely to be those who have a harder time recovering from disaster: lower-income households and rural residents. That means Texans without insurance face a steep — if not impossible — path to restore what financial well-being they had before a disaster strikes."

Joshua Fechter reports for the Texas Tribune March 4, 2024. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Wildfires Have Devastated The Texas Cattle Industry And The Effects May Be Long-Lasting" (CNN) [3]

"Fire Danger: Current Situation" (Texas A&M Forest Service) [4]

"A Massive Texas Wildfire Is Finally Dying Down. Its Impact Could Last Years." (Washington Post) [5]