Severe thunderstorms wreaked havoc across the Houston area on Thursday evening, resulting in the deaths of at least four people and leaving approximately one million residents without power. The storms, which brought heavy rain, destructive winds, and dangerous flooding, caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure in the city.
Houston officials have reported numerous incidents of blown-out windows, collapsed walls, and downed power lines throughout the downtown area. During a news conference, it was confirmed that at least two fatalities were due to falling trees, and another death occurred in an accident involving a crane toppled by strong winds. Fire Chief Samuel Peña provided these details, emphasizing the extent of the destruction.
Winds reaching speeds up to 100 miles per hour battered much of Houston, with Mayor John Whitmire comparing the force to that experienced during Hurricane Ike. The mayor stated that restoring power could take between 24 to 48 hours in various parts of the city. In response to the damage and power outages, Houston’s public school district announced the cancellation of all classes on Friday. Emergency responders have urged residents to stay home due to widespread traffic light failures and hazards from live power lines.
Prior to the storm’s arrival, the National Weather Service in Houston had issued warnings for winds up to 80 mph, along with tornado warnings and a special marine warning for the Galveston Bay area.
The aftermath saw nearly one million customers without power across Texas, predominantly in the Houston area. CenterPoint Energy, the provider for southeast Texas, reported numerous downed power lines and indicated that its call centers were overwhelmed.
Local news outlets broadcast scenes of significant damage in downtown Houston, with twisted metal signposts and shattered glass widespread. Flash flood warnings were issued earlier in the afternoon, advising residents to seek higher ground and avoid driving through flooded areas.
Social media was flooded with images and videos showing the impact of the storms. In College Station, Texas, videos depicted vehicles struggling through flooded roads, and at Minute Maid Park, where the Houston Astros were playing, strong winds could be seen whipping large panel structures.
The Weather Prediction Center had warned earlier on Thursday that over 12 million people across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi were at risk of excessive rainfall and flash flooding. Lina Hidalgo, the top executive of Harris County, which includes Houston, noted on social media that the heavy rain could potentially exacerbate flooding issues, particularly near the San Jacinto River, which had already experienced significant flooding earlier in the month.
Hidalgo had issued a disaster declaration to secure federal aid for Harris County residents affected by the storms, underscoring the severity of the situation and the need for continued vigilance as the region works to recover.
