Credit: NASA

When Hurricane Ike struck the Gulf Coast in 2008, it killed 74 people and caused $30 billion in damage. Yet despite the destruction, scientists and some public officials say residents got lucky. If an Ike-sized storm made a direct hit on Houston, home to one of America’s largest energy hubs, the results would be catastrophic.

And while this hasn’t happened yet, scientists say it’s only a matter of time.

On this week’s episode, we teamed up with The Texas Tribune and ProPublica to investigate exactly what might happen when the next big one hits – and whether the proper protections are in place.

Hypotheticals aside, we’ve already seen the lingering impact that hurricanes from Katrina to Sandy have left on communities around the country. And we want to hear your stories about how a hurricane has changed your life.

Using the form below, tell us your hurricane or major storm story. We’re looking for a range of experiences – from the challenges of rebuilding to the unexpected heroes that helped pick up the pieces. This could be your story or that of your community, family or friends.

Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.

Byard Duncan is a reporter and producer for  engagement and collaborations for Reveal. He manages Reveal’s Reporting Networks, which provide more than 1,000 local journalists across the U.S. with resources and training to continue Reveal investigations in their communities. He also helps lead audience engagement initiatives around Reveal’s stories and assists local reporters in elevating their work to a national platform. In addition to Reveal, Duncan’s work has appeared in GQ, Esquire, The California Sunday Magazine and Columbia Journalism Review, among other outlets. He was part of Reveal’s Behind the Smiles project team, which was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2019. He is the recipient of two Edward R. Murrow Awards, a National Headliner Award, an Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award, and two first-place awards for feature storytelling from the Society of Professional Journalists and Best of the West. Duncan is based in Reveal's Emeryville, California, office.