A study by a leading US university in conjunction with broker Willis has warned that the ongoing impact of climate change will very likely increase the frequency and severity of storm activity in Texas and surrounding areas in both the short medium and long term.

As the state still recovers from the impact of Hurricane Ike in 2008 a conference staged at the Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business sponsored by the Willis Research Network has been told that Texas already especially vulnerable to the “triple threat” of hurricanes, hail storms and tornadoes, can expect worst to come.

Speaking at the conference, Dr. Harold Brooks of the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) said that straight-line winds – the violent air currents that usually accompany thunderstorms and are produced when areas of low and high pressure collide – represent a growing threat to homes and businesses.  Compared with hurricanes, tornadoes and, to a lesser extent, hail, such winds are a relatively small contributor to structural damage at present, he said, but as the climate changes, NSSL researchers believe these events will become more frequent and therefore contribute more significantly to overall damage.

“Based on what we know about the potential patterns of climate change, we expect severe storm activity to increase in Texas and the Midwest, including higher activity of straight-line winds with potentially damaging effects,” Dr. Brooks added.

The increased activity would not be limited to onshore weather patterns the conference was told and given the heavy concentration of oil and gas facilities off the coats of the state there will be concern over the findings in the energy risk community.

The conference heard that insurance companies can play “a significant role” in motivating property owners through incentives to retrofit their properties with enhanced roofing materials, shutters, proper garage bracing, soffit strengthening and other enhancements that will reduce the likelihood of severe damage. 

According to Kyle Beatty, Business Leader for Willis’ Catastrophe Management Services unit, “Property owners, communities, and insurance companies should work together to prepare for extreme wind risk by adopting appropriate building standards.  This collaboration could mitigate the damaging effects that cost insurance companies and taxpayers millions of dollars each year. “