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Richardson, TX Water Damage Data

The events that flood Richardson homes, in one place and with sources: 878 emergency water shutoffs during Winter Storm Uri, 14 hail reports nearby in 2026, 671 structures hit by the 2019 tornado, and a 72-inch water district pipeline break in 2018. Every figure links to its source.

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Hard freeze

Winter Storm Uri, February 11–20, 2021

Measure	Figure
Emergency water shutoffs (Public Services and Fire)	878
Water main breaks responded to	26
Richardson Fire Department calls	752
Peak daily water use	32 million gallons
Normal daily water use	16 million gallons

Source: City of Richardson figures reported to City Council. Daily use doubled as residents dripped faucets to protect their pipes, which is why the city asks residents to follow water requests during a freeze.

Hail

Hail near Richardson in 2026

Measure	Figure
Hail reports within 10 miles	14
Largest hail measured in Richardson	1.75 inches (golf-ball size), April 27
Most recent report	May 23
ZIP with the most damaging reports	75081

Source: StormerSite hail reports for Richardson. Hail-damaged roofs often leak into attics and ceilings weeks after the storm. Related: ceiling water damage · Richardson 75081

Tornado

The October 20, 2019 tornado in Richardson

Measure	Figure
Structures impacted in Richardson	671
Major damage	60
Destroyed	12
Single-family homes unsafe to occupy	54
Multi-family units unsafe to occupy	196
Debris cleared by November 11, 2019	Over 50,000 cubic yards
Strongest rating in Richardson	EF2 (Walnut Abrams Plaza, Cutters Point apartments)
Total damage, whole tornado path	$1.55 billion

Neighborhoods on the path included Richland Park, Lakes of Buckingham, Richland Meadows, College Park, Mark Twain Park and northern Duck Creek. The tornado dissipated just after crossing North Jupiter Road at 9:30 p.m.

Water district pipeline

The 2018 72-inch pipeline break

When: late August 2018; back in service September 3, 2018.
Where: 4500 block of Crystal Mountain Drive, Richardson (75082).
What: a 72-inch North Texas Municipal Water District pipeline serving Richardson, Garland, Murphy, Plano, Sachse and Wylie. Customers were asked to curtail outdoor watering as a precaution.
Why: two independent studies found a crack in the pipe’s mortar let moisture reach and degrade the reinforcing wires.
Follow-up: an inspection of 6,000 pipe segments found wire degradation in five, and the district agreed to repeat full assessments every five years.

A break like this is the water district’s line, not your plumbing. Is it a main break or my pipe?

Housing and plumbing

Richardson homes and their plumbing

Richardson has about 46,500 housing units (American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimate).
Much of the city was built from the 1950s through the 1970s, when galvanized steel supply lines and cast-iron drains were common.
Most homes sit on slab-on-grade foundations over North Texas expansive clay soil, which swells and shrinks with rain and drought.
Storage tank water heaters typically last 10 to 15 years, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Rules and timelines

Rules and timelines that apply to every Richardson home

Rule	Figure	Source
Dry water-damaged areas to prevent mold	Within 24–48 hours	EPA
Mold job that requires a licensed company in Texas	25+ contiguous sq ft	TDLR
Certificate of Mold Damage Remediation issued	Within 10 days of completion	TDLR
Insurer acknowledges your claim	Within 15 days	Texas OPIC
Insurer approves or denies	Within 15 business days of receiving everything	Texas OPIC
Insurer pays after approval	Within 5 business days	Texas OPIC

FAQ

Data FAQs

How many water shutoffs did Richardson make during Winter Storm Uri?

From February 11 to 20, 2021, Richardson Public Services and Richardson Fire made 878 emergency water shutoffs, crews responded to 26 water main breaks, and the fire department took 752 calls, according to figures the city reported to City Council.

How much hail did Richardson get in 2026?

There were 14 hail reports within 10 miles of Richardson in 2026, according to StormerSite. The largest was 1.75-inch hail measured in the city on April 27, the most recent came on May 23, and ZIP code 75081 logged the most damaging reports.

How many Richardson homes did the 2019 tornado damage?

The city reported 671 structures impacted by the October 20, 2019 tornado, with 60 sustaining major damage and 12 destroyed. 54 single-family homes and 196 multi-family units were unsafe to occupy.

Can I cite this page?

Yes. Please link to this page and to the original sources listed for each figure. We update the page when new data is published.

Sources for this page

Figures are reported as published by each source. If you spot a newer figure, let us know and we’ll update this page.

Last updated October 2026.

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