On July 8, 2024, Hurricane Beryl made landfall near Matagorda, Texas, as a Category 1 hurricane with
sustained winds of 80 mph. The storm left millions in the area without power for an extended period of time, and more than 40% of residents had their home or property damaged.
To understand early recovery efforts and feelings of resilience among Houston and Harris County residents, a survey was sent to more than 5,300 members of the Greater Houston Community Panel in late July 2024.
Key findings
- About 80% of residents reported they received help, helped others or witnessed their neighbors helping one another following Hurricane Beryl. Individuals who had either seen or participated in varying levels of support were more likely to report feeling closer to their neighbors and a stronger sense of community.
- Nearly half (49%) of residents said they felt like they were more capable of handling the stress of future storms. About 7 in 10 said they knew how to better prepare for the next major storm.
- The majority (70%) said they were very or extremely confident their household would be able to fully recover from the storm. Confidence in recovery was lower, however, when residents were asked to reflect on their neighborhood (62%), and even lower when reflecting on the broader Houston area (40%).
- More than 1 in 5 residents said they were considering relocating to a different part of Houston due to their experiences, while nearly 4 in 10 said they were considering moving out of the Houston area entirely. About 19% said they were considering both.
