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Limited damage estimate for Hurricane Nicholas

The Karen Clark & Company flash estimate puts the insured loss from Hurricane Nicholas close to $950 million, after half a million people lost electricity to their homes earlier this month.

Based on the high-resolution KCC US Hurricane Reference Model, the estimate includes the privately insured damage to residential, commercial, and industrial properties.

Nicholas made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane near Sargent Beach, Texas with maximum sustained winds of 75mph in the early hours of September 14.

Intensifying more than anticipated prior to landfall, it made an unexpected eastward shift of about 50 miles.

The 14th named storm and the 6th hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, Nicholas weakened shortly after landfall to tropical storm strength as it moved further inland across eastern Texas.

The storm transitioned to a tropical depression that evening and the storm made an eastward turn over Louisiana and eventually dissipated.

Hurricane-force winds were isolated to coastal areas, and most wind impacts were from tropical storm force winds.

In the Bay City area near the landfall point, there were reports of structural roof damage, damage to exterior walls, and siding damage. Further inland, most impacts included low-level wind damage with more significant damage from downed trees.

Over 500,000 people were left without power as a result of high winds and downed trees knocking down power lines.

Lorie Harbinson in Surfside Beach, after riding out Hurricane Nicholas’ landfall in her mobile home Tuesday, Sept. 14. “I wasn’t expecting it to be that bad,” she said. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via AP)
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Published September 20, 2021 at 10:51 am (Updated September 20, 2021 at 11:11 am)

Limited damage estimate for Hurricane Nicholas

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