Humberto lands in Texas, sweeps across La.

Hurricane Humberto, a category 1 hurricane that formed quickly off the coast of Texas, plowed into the southeast corner of the state on Sept. 13 bringing with it heavy rains and 80 miles per hour winds. The hurricane made landfall near where Hurri-cane Rita hit two years ago. The storm moved ashore near the town High Island and drenched nearby Beaumont with 6.5 inches of rain, according to the National Hurricane Center.

California-based Risk Management Solutions (RMS) estimated total insured losses associated with Humberto likely will not exceed $500 million. This figure includes wind damage to residential, commercial and industrial properties and business interruption resulting from power outages or damage to property.

Due to Humberto’s relatively small windfield, damage is mainly confined to Jefferson, Orange and Galveston counties in southeast Texas with the most severe damage seen in coastal communities, such as High Island, RMS said.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry declared the three southeast Texas counties disaster areas as a result of damage from the hurricane.

The Associated Press reported that one death attributed to the storm occurred in Bridge City, Texas, when 80-year-old John Simon was killed as his backyard patio collapsed on him in the high winds.

After Perry issued the disaster declaration, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott warned Gulf Coast residents to be wary of price gouging, charity scams and other fraudulent attempts to bilk consumers in Humberto’s wake.

Topics Texas Louisiana Hurricane