According to the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Harris County, Texas, is the nation’s single most-at-risk county to the likelihood and potential impact of natural disasters. The Houston metro area, largely made up by Harris County, is also one of the fastest growing, most racially and socioeconomically diverse, and youngest regions of the United States.
In a new report, LIIF’s Advisory and Policy team takes a closer look at these dynamics using estimated climate risks and existing child care facilities in Harris County. The report finds that, of the 2,613 child care facilities in the county, 99.5% are in areas with climate risk that exceeds the national average. And over half of all child care supply – 104,000 seats in total – faces disaster risk above the 90th percentile nationally. Despite these risks, data from a survey LIIF conducted of child care program directors in May 2024 reveals that many programs lack the financial resources and capacity to weatherize their facilities.
This report builds on LIIF’s growing focus on the ways climate change uniquely affects young children and caregivers. In two additional reports following this one, LIIF will tee up a framework and way forward through its partnership with Harris County and Volunteers of America Texas (VOATX) to deploy the Harris County SHINE Fund, a $17.3 million program focused on child care infrastructure and facilities.