Hundreds of Texas Homes Damaged by Heavy Rains in October

Authorities say heavy October rains damaged hundreds of homes extending from the Austin area down into South Texas.

Travis County emergency officials said more than 330 properties were damaged in flooding at the end of October. Roughly 160 homes sustained major damage; inspectors say nearly 160 others saw minor damage.

High winds and floodwaters from the remnants of Hurricane Patricia earlier in the month damaged more than 175 homes in Willacy County, in far South Texas. As much as 19 inches of rain was reported to have fallen in some areas.

Officials say October’s rains made it the fifth-wettest going back to 1895.

The National Weather Service says a statewide average of 5.84 inches fell in October, well above the average count of 2.53.

Less than 25 percent of Texas homeowners carry flood insurance, according to the Insurance Council of Texas.