BBVA Compass 소속의 경제학자가 수행한 새 연구에 따르면 지난 5월 말 휴스턴 대도심 지역의 많은 부분에서 발생한 심각한 우수로 인한 경제적인 영향은 2억 달러에서 최대 5억5천만 달러에 이를 것으로 집계된다.

메모리얼 데이 휴가 주간에 발생한 엄청난 폭우는 두 주의 전역에서 치명적이고 처참한 홍수를 일으키며 오클라호마 및 텍사스의 많은 지역을 침수시켰다. 휴스턴시 남서부에는 최대 11인치 가량의 비가 쏟아지며 건물 수천 개가 손상을 입었다. 이번 집계는 가구, 건물, 차 등에 대한 손해뿐만 아니라 경제적 활동 및 세금의 손실까지 포함하고 있다.

 

 

 

According to new research conducted by economists at BBVA Compass, a Sunbelt-based financial institution, the economic impact of the severe rainfall that left many parts of the Houston metropolitan area underwater at the end of May could range from $200 to $550 million.

 

Heavy storm surges inundated many parts of Oklahoma and Texas over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, causing fatal and disastrous flooding across the two states (see "Fatal flooding inundates Texas, Oklahoma"). Thousands of Houston's structures were damaged as a result, with parts of Southwest Houston receiving up to 11 inches of rain.

 

The estimate includes damage to housing, structures and cars, as well as the total value of lost economic activity and sales tax revenues from May 25-26. "The material cost of the recent flooding is significant, but the economic impact for Houston will be lower than Hurricane Ike and Tropical Storm Allison, which were around $154 billion and $6.7 billion respectively," said Marcial Nava, BBVA senior economist.

 

The estimate is preliminary, with damages still being tallied -- it's unknown how much it will cost to repair the Southwest Wastewater Treatment Plant, for example. The damage outside of the greater Houston area was substantial as well, with 70 counties -- 28 percent of total counties in Texas -- declared disaster areas. Additional information can be found in the report.

 

[출처 = Water World / 2015년 6월 3일]