2006 earthquake Texas has the seventh highest birth rate in the United States with nearly 400,000 babies born each year. Over half of all Texas births are paid by Medicaid totaling over $2.2 billion per year in birth and delivery-related services for mothers and infants. Studies have found that infant mortality is usually caused by birth defects pre-term birth low birth weight Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and pregnancy complications the average amount spent in the first year of life for a preterm birth with major complications (excluding extreme prematurity) is $19,059 and $4,019 for a preterm birth without major complications compared to $410 for an uncomplicated term birth. .
The eight-county Greater Houston metropolitan area contains over 25,000 miles (40,000 km) of roadway of which 10% or approximately 2,500 miles (4,000 km) is limited-access highway the Houston region's extensive freeway system handles over 40% of the regional daily vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Arterial roads handle an additional 40% of daily VMT while toll roads of which Greater Houston has 180 miles (290 km) handle nearly 10%, Houston is a member of the World Energy Cities Partnership a collaboration between 13 energy focused cities around the world. . The Trust for America's Health ranked Texas 15th highest in adult obesity with 27.2 percent of the state's population measured as obese the 2008 Men's Health obesity survey ranked four Texas cities among the top 25 fattest cities in America; Houston ranked 6th Dallas 7th El Paso 8th and Arlington 14th. Texas had only one city Austin ranked 21st in the top 25 among the "fittest cities" in America the same survey has evaluated the state's obesity initiatives favorably with a "B+" the state is ranked forty-second in the percentage of residents who engage in regular exercise. 5.2.2 Texas politics today Houston's topography is further defined by a large number of creeks and ditches Overall this intricate system of waterways is essential to flood control; Houston is well known as one of the most flood-prone cities in the United States. Since the mid-20th century the United States Army Corps of Engineers in cooperation with the city and Harris County Flood Control District has channelized paved widened and deepened extensive sections of all of the five major bayous specified above with the notable exception of some parts of the Buffalo near Memorial the Buffalo Bayou watershed also features two flood control reservoirs Addicks Reservoir and Barker Reservoir which retain large amounts of water after extreme rainfall events. . .
Primary Care Medical Group of Inland Empire