CoreLogic® estimates 18,600 homes within tornado footprint
Hail, straight-line winds and tornadoes from a strong low-pressure system damaged properties across the Gulf Coast on Jan. 24. An EF-3 tornado destroyed homes and disrupted operations at petrochemical facilities outside of Houston, Texas.
CoreLogic Reactor™ Identifies More Than 18,600 Homes Worth an Estimated $4.6B Potentially Within Tornado Path
CoreLogic® estimates that approximately 18,600 single- and multifamily residential properties with a combined reconstruction value (RCV) of $4.6B were potentially within the tornado path in Harris County, Texas. Table 1 provides the number and total reconstruction value of residential properties within the path by the probability of tornadic damage.
Note, the probability does not indicate the degree of damage but rather the likelihood that a property was within the tornado path. CoreLogic Tornado Forensics Technology captured the tornado path in Harris County. A map of the path with the probability of tornadic damage as viewed in CoreLogic Reactor™ is provided in Figure 1.
Table 1: The Number and Total Reconstruction Value (RCV) of Residential Properties Within Jan. 24 Tornado Path by Probability of Tornadic Damage
| Location | Probability of Damage | Property Count | RCV ($ mn) |
| Harris County, Texas | > 10% | 5,783 | 1,410 |
| > 30% | 4,054 | 998 | |
| > 50% | 3,913 | 978 | |
| > 70% | 4,604 | 1,115 | |
| > 90% | 252 | 62 | |
| Total | 18,606 | 4,562 |
Note, not all properties within the tornado footprint suffered damage, and a damaged structure may not have suffered 100% loss up to the full reconstruction value. The number of damaged properties will be a subset of the total 18,600 homes.
Figure 1: Jan. 24 Tornado Path Crossing Harris County as Viewed in CoreLogic Reactor. (Darker Colors Represent Higher Probability of Being Within the Tornado Path)
EF-3 Tornado Confirmed in Harris County, Texas
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Storm Prediction Center (SPC) confirmed EF-0 to EF-3 level tornado damage in Harris County. Reports from the Jan. 26 damage survey update show that the tornado in southeast Harris County was a maximum EF-3 tornado with estimated peak wind speeds of 140 mph. The tornado’s path extended over 18 miles, and the maximum width of the storm was 1,000 yards.
The damage survey reports a near-continuous path of destruction across portions of the county, including the cities of Houston, Pasadena, Deer Park and Baytown. The survey reported damages at EF-2 levels for an apartment complex in southeast Houston, several homes in Pasadena and a church in Deer Park. Additional damage to several single-family residences and mobile homes was reported. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported.
Damage and Disruption at Harris County Oil Refineries
Harris County is home to a number of large industrial facilities, including petrochemical refineries, manufacturing plants and shipping operations. Companies such as Shell, Exxon Mobile and TotalEnergies operate in Harris County.
Shell and Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) reported operational upsets due to the severe weather outbreak on Jan. 24. Other companies such as Exxon Mobil and TotalEnergies sent personnel home prior to the outbreak and avoided any operational disruptions, damage or injuries. Delays in operations could have material downstream effects.
Visit www.hazardhq.com for updates on the Jan. 24 Houston tornado and information on future catastrophes around the globe.
