October Downpours Damaged Hundreds of Texas Homes

Authorities say heavy October rains damaged hundreds of homes extending from the Austin area down into South Texas.

Travis County emergency officials said in a statement that more than 330 properties were damaged in flooding last week. About 160 homes sustained damage considered major while inspectors say nearly 160 others saw minor damage.

According to the Insurance Council of Texas, a state insurance trade association, most homeowners in the state are unprotected when it comes to flood damage. The association says that less than 25 percent of Texas homeowners carry flood insurance despite certain flood prone parts of the state.

High winds and floodwaters from the remnants of Hurricane Patricia about two weeks ago damaged more than 175 homes in Willacy County, in far South Texas. The Valley Morning Star reports as much as 19 inches of rain fell in some areas.

Weather officials say October’s rains made it the fifth-wettest going back to 1895.

The National Weather Service says a statewide average of 5.84 inches fell in October, well above the average count of 2.53.