North Central Texas Council of Governments Study Projects Over $2 Billion in Flood Damage for West North Texas
Preliminary findings from the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) indicate that flooding could cause nearly $2.3 billion in damage across western North Texas over the next 50 years. This projection is part of the Integrated Transportation and Stormwater Infrastructure Study, launched in 2023, which aims to identify optimal strategies for growth to mitigate flood damage and enhance safety. The study focuses on areas including parts of Parker, Tarrant, Hood, and Johnson counties, where rapid development is converting open land into impervious surfaces like roads and parking lots. This conversion is expected to increase developed surfaces from 6.4% in 2020 to 35.2% by 2070, leading to greater runoff and reduced natural absorption of precipitation. The damage estimate accounts for existing and future buildings, their contents, vehicles, and displacement costs for residents.
