Hurricane Hanna Causes an Estimated $350M in Damage

The first hurricane of the 2020 North Atlantic season, Hurricane Hanna, made landfall on July 25 causing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damage. While the storm made landfall on Padre Island, Texas, the damage spread deep into the state, according to the Caller Times.

About Hurricane Hanna

Hurricane Hanna first formed as a tropical storm in the Gulf Coast on July 23, 2020. It was the fourth U.S. storm to reach landfall in 2020, but the first hurricane. It made landfall at 4:00 p.m. Central time with maximum sustained winds of 90 miles per hour. The storm was able to develop enough to make landfall due to a low wind shear environment and warm sea surface temperatures. Areas received low to moderate damage as a result of the wind with the coastal area along the southern Texas border being hit by a storm surge.

The storm traveled southwest after making landfall but petered out quickly once it hit mountainous terrain. This allowed the storm to devolve into a tropical storm by July 26.

The Damaged Areas

According to Karen Clark & Company (KCC), a catastrophe risk modeling firm, the insured loss caused by Hurricane Hanna will reach into the hundreds of millions. Based on KCC’s US Hurricane Reference Model and excluding losses covered by the National Flood Insurance Program, KCC estimates that losses will be roughly $350 million. Areas across the state suffered damage, as reported by the Caller Times. Most areas are still in the process of assessing the damage.

Corpus Christi

Due to its distance from Hurricane Hanna’s landfall, residents reportedly didn’t expect the storm to greatly impact the city of Corpus Christi. However, the storm surge caused by the hurricane left much of North Beach with heavy flooding. City officials have been working to clean away debris left by the storm and to clear sand out of the city’s stormwater system, parking lots, and the general area. Early reports show little structural damage in the city, but North Beach seems to have suffered significant sand erosion.

Nueces County

The damage in Nueces County was more severe. Due to the destruction and debris, including wood, rebar, and chunks of asphalt, county officials are considering closing off the beach from Access Road 6 to Bob Hall Pier. If the beach is closed to public access, only county employees and contractors would be allowed to enter the area for cleanup. This could help keep the public safe while streamlining the cleaning process after Hurricane Hanna.

“There is no beach – really, right now – to speak of the way there was beach before,” Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales told the Caller Times. “The beach profile has changed. … And so we really need to get this assessment and cleanup done before we bring people back into this one area of beach.”

San Patricio County

County Judge David Krebs reports that damage in San Patricio County was minimal, according to the Caller Times. There was some flooding, about 3 to 4 inches of rain fell throughout the county, but no residents required rescue. Some houses in the areas had their roofs damaged by the storm, but Krebs told CallerTimes the county had been “really lucky” not to sustain more serious damage.

Art Museum of South Texas and Texas State Aquarium

Both the Art Museum of South Texas and the Texas State Aquarium suffered some damage due to Hurricane Hanna. The Aquarium was flooded with debris and mud, though no animals were harmed and none needed to be relocated.

The damage to the Art Museum has not been reported in detail, but a news release issued by the institution said that some art had been damaged. A few inches of water seeped into the lower floors of the museum, and officials have been working to ensure no further water enters the building.

What to Do If You Suffered Hurricane Hanna Damages

If your home, business, or other possessions were damaged by Hurricane Hanna, a homeowner’s insurance claim can help you seek compensation.  Make a note of all the items that were damaged or destroyed, and keep receipts for any expenses. To make sure you receive full compensation, you may wish to consult with an attorney on that process.