North Texas Ice Storm Damage Reaches $30 Million

A tree split in half due to ice accumulation. The ice storm that hit North Texas left over 250,000 residents and businesses without power and led to more than 1,700 flight delays and cancellations across the country. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — An industry group says damage from this month's North Texas ice storm has reached at least $30 million in residential insured losses.

Officials with the Insurance Council of Texas say the losses include downed trees hitting homes, broken pipes and other residential damage in the Dallas area and nearby. The preliminary estimate Thursday does not include losses to vehicles, roads or government property.

Council spokesman Mark Hanna says the losses are expected to go higher.

The wintry weather that hit North Texas beginning Dec. 5 closed schools, government offices and businesses and stranded motorists. Some closures and power outages lingered into this week as thick ice that glazed roads slowly melted.

Categories: Severe Weather, Texas News