Newsroom

     Based on the projected path of Tropical Storm Erin, the U.S. Census Bureau today calculated that about 4 million people could feel the storm’s effects as it makes landfall along the Texas coast. The National Hurricane Center predicts that Erin could arrive near the lower or middle Texas coast by Thursday morning.

     A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Texas coast from Freeport southward. A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area in the next 24 hours. The storm is currently about 200 miles east of the city of Brownsville, with a population of more than 172,000.

     According to the Census Bureau’s 2005 American Community Survey, the median housing value in Brownsville was $65,000. Over half the homes were built more than 25 years ago. The median household income was about $24,000, and 43 percent of the household population lived in poverty. Additionally, about 14 percent of the Brownsville occupied homes were without access to a vehicle.

     As the 2007 hurricane season progresses, the Census Bureau will continue to post information on its Hurricane Data and Emergency Preparedness Web page <http://www.census.gov/newsroom/emergencies/>.