Recovering from a disaster involves more than repairing property damage; it also involves restoring physical and mental health, financial stability, housing security and a return to routine daily life. This study examines the short- and long-term recovery of Houston-area residents following Hurricane Beryl and other severe weather events occuring between April and July 2024.
More than 5,300 Harris County residents were surveyed in August 2024 about their experiences before, during and after the severe weather events. A follow-up survey in November and December received about 5,000 responses.
Key findings
- About 2-4 weeks after Hurricane Beryl, almost 1 in 4 residents (23%) felt that their lives were still somewhat or very disrupted because of the storm.
- Four to 6 months after Beryl, about 1 in 10 reported their lives were still somewhat or very disrupted.
- Black residents were less likely than other racial/ethnic groups to report having returned to normalcy in both the short term and longer term following Beryl.
- For those making less than $25,000 — which is about 1 in 6 Harris County residents — their probability of having recovered 2-4 weeks after Beryl was significantly lower than all other income groups.
- Four to 6 months after Beryl, the probability of recovery was higher for people making $50,000 or more than for those making less.
- Over 6 in 10 residents said the impacts of severe weather in 2024 would make it harder to pay for basic necessities.
