Intense Thunderstorms Sweep Through Texas, Leaving Four Dead and One Million Without Power
A powerful storm swept through Texas on Thursday evening, bringing heavy rain, destructive winds, and dangerous flooding to parts of the state that were already struggling with extreme weather this month. The storm, which hit Houston particularly hard, resulted in four fatalities and left about one million people without power.
Reports of blown-out windows, a collapsed office building wall, and downed power lines flooded in from Houston as the storm tore through the downtown area. According to Samuel Peña, the city’s fire chief, at least two people were killed by falling trees, while another person lost their life in an accident involving a toppled crane.
With winds reaching speeds of up to 100 miles per hour, Houston Mayor John Whitmire compared the storm to Hurricane Ike, noting that tornadoes were also a factor. The aftermath of the storm left significant damage in downtown Houston, with twisted metal signposts and shattered glass littering the streets.
The impact of the storm was so severe that the public school district in Houston announced the closure of all schools on Friday. Emergency responders urged residents to stay home due to widespread power outages and traffic light malfunctions throughout the city.
Forecasters had issued flash flood warnings across the state earlier in the day, advising residents to seek higher ground and avoid driving through flooded areas. Social media posts showed vehicles struggling to navigate flooded roads in College Station, Texas, while videos captured strong winds battering Minute Maid Park during a baseball game.
As the storm moved through Harris County, which includes Houston, officials warned of the potential for more flooding along the East Fork of the San Jacinto River. The area had already experienced major flooding earlier in the month, prompting a disaster declaration from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo to secure federal aid for affected residents.
The Weather Prediction Center cautioned that more than 12 million people in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi were at risk of excessive rainfall and flash flooding. Despite the challenges posed by the storm, officials are working to restore power and provide assistance to those impacted by the severe weather.
