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Lamar County Multi- Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan <br />Chapter Three <br />4. Previous Occurrences <br />National Climatic Data Center documented a total of 38 hail events occurring in Lamar County <br />between 2006 -2012. Of those, 17 events had large hail equal to or greater than 1.5" inches in <br />diameter. The largest recorded hailstones were 4.5 inches diameter which fel <br />S. Probability of Future Events <br />Based on the previous occurrences of Hailstorms in Lamar County the probability of future similar <br />events is extremely high. Due to the nature of Hailstorms their frequency, and cause there is no <br />way to predict exactly the time and place that these events will occur but the entire county and each <br />jurisdiction is equally susceptible to the extremely probably event. <br />6. Vulnerability <br />Although hailstorms can occur in almost every state, they are most common in the plains. <br />Vulnerability is difficult to evaluate since hail events has no geographic boundaries. Hail is capable <br />of causing considerable damage to crops, buildings, and vehicles, and occasionally death to farm <br />animals. While large hail poses a threat to people caught outside in a storm, it seldom causes loss of <br />human life. Damages will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and event to event based on several <br />factors the most common being population density, and types of construction in different <br />communities as well as the size and severity of the event itself. <br />7. Secondary Hazards <br />Deep hail can easily worsen a flash flood situation by clogging drainage paths, culverts and gates. <br />Hail is capable of breaking glass and allowing interior flooding of buildings. <br />8. Overall Summary of Vulnerability and Impacts <br />Hail can occur in any strong thunderstorm and at any time of the year. However, the size of the <br />hailstones is a direct function of the severity and size of the storm. Hail, larger than 1.5 inches can <br />cause serious damage to cars, roofs, walls, windows, and inflict serious bodily injury as well. All of <br />Texas has a significant threat of Hailstorms and virtually all buildings and automobiles are at risk. <br />Crops are also at risk since the peak periods for hailstorms occur during early April and May, which <br />coincide with critical agricultural seasons. <br />67 <br />