Julio Cortez

Stay informed with Julio Cortez’s coverage and analysis for Fortune.

A man surveys debris along the Guadalupe River after a flash flood struck the area, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas floods leave at least 51 dead, 27 girls missing as rescuers search devastated landscape

By Jim Vertuno, Julio Cortez, and others

$A 42-mile conveyor belt by Atlas Energy carries sand needed for hydraulic fracturing Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Kermit, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)$

Environment

The 42-mile ‘Dune Express’—America’s longest conveyor belt—moves fracking sand in Texas

By Julio Cortez, Nadia Lathan, and others

A man looks at a damaged car after a tornado hit the day before, Sunday, May 26, 2024, in Valley View, Texas. Powerful storms left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas after obliterating homes and destroying a truck stop where drivers took shelter during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Environment

Memorial Day weekend storms that devastated several U.S. states killed at least 22

By Bruce Schreiner, Julio Cortez, and others

A man looks over debris at an area where people reportedly died during a deadly tornado as it rolled through, Sunday, May 26, 2024, in Valley View, Texas. Powerful storms left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas after obliterating homes and destroying a truck stop where drivers took shelter during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Environment

Dazed Texas county sifts through homes mangled by tornado in powerful storms that killed over 15 across the South: ‘It was horrific. Hellish’

By Sean Murphy, Julio Cortez, and others

destroyed cars are stacked on top of each other

Environment

At least 15 dead after storms hit Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas with severe weather expected to head east

By Sean Murphy, Julio Cortez, and others