As the 2025 hurricane season begins June 1, Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research offers a wealth of data on how disasters and climate change are impacting Houstonians. This stat sheet includes essential statistics and insights that journalists can use to help tell stories about preparedness, climate change, housing costs and health outcomes linked to severe weather events.
With extensive data from multiple years of surveys from the Greater Houston Community Panel, the Kinder Institute is a trusted source for reporters covering the evolving challenges faced by Houston residents and the broader impacts of climate change and disaster risks.
To schedule an interview with the Kinder Institute’s experts, contact media relations specialist Kat Cosley Trigg at Kat.Cosley.Trigg@rice.edu.
Credit: Journalists are welcome to use this data in their reporting with proper attribution to Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research.
Preparedness matters
-
More than half of Houston and Harris County residents (58%) felt either somewhat or very well prepared for a disaster.
-
On average, residents reported taking about 4 out of 10 potential disaster preparedness actions.
-
7 in 10 residents (70%) reported worrying at least somewhat about disasters happening in the Houston area, and more than 9 in 10 (91%) said that it was at least somewhat likely a disaster would impact them where they currently live.
-
Households with higher annual incomes were more likely to feel prepared for disasters, and they also took more actual preparedness actions.
Learn more in: Houston and Harris County Disaster Preparedness and Attitudes Leading Up to the 2024 Hurricane Season (May 2025)
Concerns about climate change
In 2024, Harris County residents expressed significant concerns about climate change affecting the region.
-
Nearly 60% of respondents said they were either worried, very worried or extremely worried about the impact of climate change in the region, while only 13% said they were not at all worried.
-
84% of residents think it is somewhat likely, likely or very likely climate change will have a negative impact on their own health and well-being in the next 10 years.
-
81% think it is at least somewhat likely their own financial situation will be negatively affected by climate change.
-
Beyond themselves, residents are also concerned climate change will negatively impact the community where they live: 86% said it was at least somewhat likely their quality of life would be compromised, and 86% thought Houston’s economic prosperity would be impacted.
Learn more in: 2024 Kinder Houston Area Survey (May 2024)
Disasters and housing costs
A 2024 study about housing affordability and instability in Harris County revealed the impact of storms.
-
Two-thirds of Houston and Harris County residents find it at least a little difficult to afford their housing costs.
-
Of those, 76% cited severe weather impacts as the most common factor impacting housing affordability, and 51% cited insurance costs, including flood insurance
Learn more in: Housing Affordability and Instability Snapshot (Feb. 2025)
Hurricanes and household impacts
A study of last year’s derecho and Hurricane Beryl revealed economic impacts on households, including:
-
Nearly 8 in 10 residents had to throw away food from their refrigerator or freezer because of prolonged power loss with the majority saying it was worth over $250.
-
Over two-thirds of residents reported their health was impacted, most commonly their sleep quality.
-
More than half of workers reported losing income.
Learn more in: 2024 Storm Impacts in Houston and Harris County: A Descriptive Overview (March 2025)
Additional resources
Rice has experts available to discuss a wide range of topics related to natural disasters and climate change. To access our subject matter expert (SME) alerts on various topics, including hurricane season, severe weather, wildfires and earthquakes, visit the following links:
For a full list of all available SME alerts, visit Rice University Expert Alerts.