Wildlife rescue faces urgent dilemma after taking in record-setting number of animals following severe storms: 'A dramatic uptick'
A Texas wildlife rescue organization is making a noble effort to save an immense number of animals following a devastating storm.
As detailed by CBS Austin, Austin Wildlife Rescue took in 160 animals following a severe storm that caused widespread damage across Central Texas, setting a single-day record for the highest total in the organization's 48-year history.
Even after the Austin Wildlife Rescue intake center's parking lot and building entrance were blocked when the wind knocked over several large trees, the organization set up a tent in the parking lot to continue accepting animals while crews worked to clear a path. Once they gained access to the building, they were able to administer triage care and assess the animals medically.
"We knew that, post storm, we always see a dramatic uptick in rescued animals arriving for our care," the organization said on Facebook, according to CBS Austin. "It took fast and steady action to both deal with our storm damage and take in the community's storm babies."
CBS Austin noted that the animals taken in "included various wildlife species displaced or injured by the storm." The most severely injured animals were transported by Austin Animal Protection officers to the organization's rehabilitation facility in Elgin.
This effort by Austin Wildlife Rescue highlights the massive impact that can be made by wildlife rescue organizations, and this situation is becoming more common as the ongoing changing climate provides conditions for an increase in extreme weather events, which can cause widespread habitat destruction and displace wildlife. For example, after Hurricane Beryl hit Texas in July 2024, the Houston SPCA received nearly 1,800 animals in just a week.
You can make a difference in your community by getting involved in local rescue efforts and donating to important climate causes. Also, you can donate to Austin Wildlife Rescue to support the organization's effort to care for the animals and repair the damage to its facilities caused by the storm.
Should the U.S. invest in building more wildlife overpasses?
Absolutely
Depends on how we do it
Depends on where we do it
Nope
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Wildlife rescue faces urgent dilemma after taking in record-setting number of animals following severe storms: 'A dramatic uptick'
A Texas wildlife rescue organization is making a noble effort to save an immense number of animals following a devastating storm. As detailed by CBS Austin, Austin Wildlife Rescue took in 160 animals following a severe storm that caused widespread damage across Central Texas, setting a single-day record for the highest total in the organization's 48-year history. Even after the Austin Wildlife Rescue intake center's parking lot and building entrance were blocked when the wind knocked over several large trees, the organization set up a tent in the parking lot to continue accepting animals while crews worked to clear a path. Once they gained access to the building, they were able to administer triage care and assess the animals medically. "We knew that, post storm, we always see a dramatic uptick in rescued animals arriving for our care," the organization said on Facebook, according to CBS Austin. "It took fast and steady action to both deal with our storm damage and take in the community's storm babies." CBS Austin noted that the animals taken in "included various wildlife species displaced or injured by the storm." The most severely injured animals were transported by Austin Animal Protection officers to the organization's rehabilitation facility in Elgin. This effort by Austin Wildlife Rescue highlights the massive impact that can be made by wildlife rescue organizations, and this situation is becoming more common as the ongoing changing climate provides conditions for an increase in extreme weather events, which can cause widespread habitat destruction and displace wildlife. For example, after Hurricane Beryl hit Texas in July 2024, the Houston SPCA received nearly 1,800 animals in just a week. You can make a difference in your community by getting involved in local rescue efforts and donating to important climate causes. Also, you can donate to Austin Wildlife Rescue to support the organization's effort to care for the animals and repair the damage to its facilities caused by the storm. Should the U.S. invest in building more wildlife overpasses? Absolutely Depends on how we do it Depends on where we do it Nope Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Newsweek
Texas Home Insurance Warning Issued
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. It is only a matter of time before the property insurance crisis that has already hit California and Florida reaches Texas, according to experts, as coverage is quickly becoming unaffordable or unavailable—or both—for homeowners in the state. A bad year for the Lone Star State—which could include wildfires, hail, flooding and hurricanes—could leave many Texas homeowners on their knees, especially if affordability issues have led to risk scaling back their coverage or going "bare" altogether. Texas Faces a Triple Threat In a recent report warning of the worsening of the conditions facing the home insurance sector in Texas, Cotality wrote that the state is facing a "triple-threat." While California is prone to deadly wildfires and Florida is vulnerable to devastating hurricanes, The Lone Star state is impacted by both extreme weather events—as well as several others. According to Cotality, a global property information and solutions provider, Texas was the hardest-hit state in the country by hail storms in 2024, with over 180,000 homes feeling the impact of hail stones larger than 2 inches. Then there are wildfires: according to Cotality, a total of $88.4 billion dollars of property in central and western Texas are at moderate or greater risk of wildfire. When it comes to hurricanes, over 4.7 million homes in the Lone Star State are at moderate or greater risk of hurricane wind damage, while more than 400,000 are at risk of storm surge damage. Homes are surrounded by floodwater after Hurricane Beryl swept through the area on July 08, 2024, in Surfside Beach, Texas. Homes are surrounded by floodwater after Hurricane Beryl swept through the area on July 08, 2024, in Surfside Beach, Texas."Texas faces more severe weather and climate perils than any other state. This includes hurricanes, tornadoes, hailstorms, derechos, floods, wildfires and ice storms," Mark Friedlander of the Insurance Information Institute told Newsweek. "In 2024, the Lone Star State experienced 20 billion-dollar severe weather and climate events in 2024, the most of any state. Since 1980, Texas has experienced more than 170 billion-dollar loss events, the highest volume in the U.S.," he said. "In 2024, Texas experienced 169 tornadoes and 878 major hail events, the most across the country in both categories." According to forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this year's hurricane season has a 60 percent chance of being above normal, with 13-19 projected storms, 6-10 hurricanes and 3-5 major hurricanes. "This prediction is based on a combination of record-high Atlantic Sea surface temperatures and a weakening El Niño, which typically reduces wind shear and can enable storms to strengthen," Steven Haynes, assistant professor of practice, finance and managerial economics at the University of Texas at Dallas, told Newsweek. "From my perspective, given the near-record high temperatures in the Gulf, it is likely that Texas will face a hurricane this season," he said. Double-Digit Premium Hikes and Shrinking Availability As natural disasters are made more frequent and more severe by climate change and the Texas population continues growing, more and more people are living in harm's way. For the state's property insurance sector, this is a challenging environment to navigate. As costs for carriers are climbing quickly, Texas homeowners have faced double-digit increases over the past few years, while several insurers halted coverage in the state last year. Premiums rose by nearly 19 percent in 2024, slightly less than the 21 percent hike reported in 2023. But still, the average annual cost of home insurance in Texas is currently $4,585—117 percent more than the national average of $2,110, according to NerdWallet. Texas has long been one of the most expensive states for homeowners' insurance, but the frequency of double-digit hikes has increased in recent years. According to Haynes, this is due to several factors that have brought up costs for insurers. "One major issue is the state's vulnerability to severe weather and natural disasters, as Texas experiences more billion-dollar disasters than any other state," he told Newsweek. "The frequency and costs associated with hailstorms, hurricanes, wildfires, and extreme heat events have significantly increased." Additionally, Haynes said, rising reconstruction costs present a challenge to insurers, with rebuilding expenses rising due to increased labor costs, higher material prices and supply chain disruptions. "These factors have led to greater claim costs. Not to mention, the higher federal interest rates are compounding the issue, as the increased borrowing costs affect all components of the supply chain," Haynes said. "Ultimately, these expenses are passed on to consumers, contributing to rising insurance premiums." Higher reinsurance costs—what insurers pay to insure themselves—have also played a role, as "reinsurers have raised their prices and tightened their terms after years of substantial global losses, and insurers, in turn, pass these costs down to policyholders," Haynes said. "A common scenario is that people get stuck in situations where they can't afford their insurance premiums, or they are reasonable in the beginning, and then increase past the point of being affordable," Howard Kunst, Cotality chief actuary, said in a recent report. Forsaking home insurance altogether, however, could leave homeowners in financial ruin should a natural disaster strike their property. Growing Uncertainty Around Government-Back Plans When the private insurance market becomes increasingly inaccessible, government-backed home insurance programs play a crucial role. But the Trump administration's recent budget cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and NOAA have added uncertainty over how reliable these programs could be this year. "Government-backed home insurance programs, such as the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) and FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), are still available but are facing financial and structural challenges," Haynes said. While there is little evidence that federal budget cuts during the Trump administration have directly impacted the availability of these programs, some significant changes have occurred, the expert added. "One major shift is that the NFIP has moved towards risk-based pricing (known as Risk Rating 2.0), which has resulted in increased premiums for many policyholders in coastal areas," Haynes said. "At the state level, TWIA has experienced rising assessments and may restrict new business if storm-related losses continue to rise. These changes are primarily related to actuarial sustainability and the increase in claims due to climate-related events, rather than political budget decisions." Timothy Davidson, a professor at the School of Social Work at Tulane University, previously told Newsweek that "with FEMA in flux and response systems stretched extremely thin, individuals need to take preparedness into their own hands immediately." In a crisis, he said, "self-reliance and community coordination will matter more than ever, connect with your neighbors, church groups and so on. With the FEMA staffing cuts, limited ability for coordination and collaboration with historic FEMA partners, and the current general state of limbo with disaster is real potential for a Katrina level catastrophe or worse, and that is not an exaggeration," he added. "Don't count on aid coming. If it does, it will be very delayed and will likely be minimal at best. Prepare, prepare, prepare!" Haynes said that all Texas homeowners should review their insurance policies, update their coverage limits, and consider obtaining flood insurance, even in areas not typically regarded as flood zones. A Scary Prospect for the Lone Star State's Future According to Cotality, the growing threat of natural disasters striking Texas and the rising cost of home insurance could lead to more residents flocking out of the state—a move that, in turn, would "widen the insurance gap and leave homeowners, as well state governments and economies, facing the possibility of insolvency as these tropical storms rack up progressively larger bills." Rising costs are also exacerbating the housing affordability crisis in the state, which has seen home prices jump from under $250,000 in 2019 to over $348,000 in May 2025. Higher home insurance premiums, as well as higher property taxes, are wiping out the benefit of growing inventory in the state, which is putting downward pressure on prices.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Colorado State University updates its 2025 hurricane season forecast
A balm of stifling Saharan dust and tepid water temperatures in the deep Atlantic have subdued early tropical development this hurricane season, but that's no reason to relax. Colorado State University's forecast for above average activity this season remains unchanged in its regular June update. The report, issued June 11, maintains the university's prediction first made in April for 17 named storms and nine hurricanes. Of the nine hurricanes, four are forecast to become major hurricanes of category 3 or higher. An average season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, including three major hurricanes. While it's not unusual for June to remain quiet — the average first named storm doesn't appear until June 20 — some tropical meteorologists have described the early days of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season that began June 1 as 'sluggish' and 'docile.' Just one area has so far been highlighted by the National Hurricane Center for potential development on June 2 and it never got above a 10% chance before fizzling two days later. Phil Klotzbach, a hurricane researcher with CSU and the lead author of the forecast, said early season activity, or lack thereof, doesn't foreshadow what will happen later in the season. 'Compared to the last few years maybe it's sluggish because the odds of having a Category 5 in the Caribbean are pretty low,' Klotzbach said. More: 2025 hurricane season could see degraded forecasts because of weather service cuts Last year, Beryl formed on June 30. It quickly strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane on July 2 in the southeastern Caribbean, making it the earliest Cat 5 on record in the Atlantic basin. CSU's prediction is partly based on the unlikelihood that a storm-thwarting El Niño will form, and above average sea surface temperatures in the Caribbean Sea and the subtropical eastern Atlantic Ocean. Unlike previous years, the water temperatures in portions of the main development region between Africa and the Caribbean are mostly normal or even slightly cooler than normal. Temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, renamed by the U.S. government as Gulf of America, continue to be near record warm. Warm water provides fuel for tropical cyclones to form and intensify. Klotzbach called the signals used to make this year's seasonal forecast in some areas of the tropics 'murky' and said there's likely to be a clearer picture of what's in store in CSU's update next month, which is scheduled for release July 9. 'There's still a lot of time for the tropics to lock in on what they are going to be,' Klotzbach said. 'It's kind of a mixed bag. Not every season is busy or quiet, some are dead on average.' Mother Nature is not making this season easy to predict, with the atmosphere expected to be in a neutral phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation, or ENSO. An El Niño pattern typically points to a less active season. A La Niña pattern can mean a more active season. Neutral can lean either way, but averages two to three more named storms than a normal season. More: Hurricane hunters save lives, but NOAA plane breakdowns, staffing shortages put them at risk AccuWeather also left its seasonal forecast unchanged in a recent update, although lead hurricane forecaster Alex DaSilva said he believes a named storm in June is possible in the northwest Caribbean or Bay of Campeche. AccuWeather forecast between 13 and 18 named storms, seven to ten hurricanes, and three to five major hurricanes. DaSilva said cooler water temperatures in the main runway between Africa and the Caribbean could mean fewer of the ferocious Cabo Verde hurricanes that form close to Africa and stalk across Atlantic. The National Hurricane Center forecasts for the myriad tropical waves in that area because they can be the seedlings of tropical cyclones, but of the estimated 60 waves that tumble off the coast each hurricane season only a fraction become hurricanes. DaSilva is more fearful of storms rapidly intensifying, especially near a coastline where people may not have as much time to get out of harm's way. 'The Gulf is on fire, and that's a concern,' DaSilva said. 'You might see a tropical storm near the islands and all of a sudden it's a major hurricane on someone's doorstep.' Kimberly Miller is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate, weather, and the environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@ Help support our local journalism, subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Hurricane season 2025 updated forecast released by Colorado State
