Deadly Storms
Hundreds of Thousands Still Without Power in Houston Area
Houston, Texas – The aftermath of a severe storm that struck Houston on Thursday has left the city grappling with widespread power outages, sweltering heat, and significant damage. As of Saturday evening, over 366,000 customers in Harris County remain without electricity, down from a peak of more than 922,000. The storm, which brought hurricane-force winds and tornadoes, has resulted in at least seven fatalities and extensive destruction across the region.
The storm's impact was immediate and devastating. Winds reaching up to 100 mph blew out windows in high-rise buildings, uprooted trees, and downed power lines, leaving hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in the dark. The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF-1 tornado touched down in Cypress, a northwest suburb of Houston, with peak winds of 110 mph. Additionally, significant straight-line winds of up to 100 mph were recorded in Downtown Houston and the Baytown area.
The human toll of the storm has been tragic. Among the fatalities were a mother of four who was killed when a tree fell on her vehicle and a man in his 70s who died when strong winds knocked a crane onto the cement truck he was in. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez reported additional storm-related deaths, including a man who died while attempting to move a downed electrical pole and a woman who was struck by lightning, causing a fire in her trailer.
In response to the widespread power outages, CenterPoint Energy has been working tirelessly to restore electricity. The company has deployed over 2,000 employees and contractors, with an additional 5,000 line workers and vegetation professionals requested for mutual assistance. Despite these efforts, the restoration process is expected to take several days, with some of the hardest-hit areas potentially facing weeks without power.
The prolonged power outages have raised significant concerns about the health and safety of residents, particularly as temperatures are expected to soar into the 90s over the weekend. The National Weather Service has issued a smog warning, advising residents to be aware of heat exhaustion symptoms and take necessary precautions. The Houston Health Department has announced plans to distribute 400 free portable air conditioners to seniors, people with disabilities, and caregivers of disabled children to help mitigate the heat risk.
The storm's destruction has brought much of Houston to a standstill. Streets are littered with debris, shattered glass, and downed power lines, prompting city officials to urge residents to stay home and avoid downtown. Schools in the Houston area have canceled classes for over 400,000 students, and government offices remain closed. The city's infrastructure has been severely impacted, with many roads flooded or blocked by fallen trees and malfunctioning traffic lights.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo have both emphasized the need for patience and caution as recovery efforts continue. Mayor Whitmire has signed a disaster declaration, paving the way for state and federal storm recovery assistance. President Joe Biden has also issued a disaster declaration for seven Texas counties, including Harris, making federal funding available to those affected by the storms.
The challenges facing Houston are compounded by the extensive damage to the city's electrical infrastructure. High-voltage transmission towers were torn apart, and downed power lines have complicated the restoration process. CenterPoint Energy has been working to reroute electricity around the damaged lines, but the repair process is expected to be lengthy and complex.
Residents reliant on electricity for lifesaving medical equipment are particularly vulnerable. Sherry Johnson, a resident of Humble, Texas, has been struggling to keep her 28-year-old son, who suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, safe and comfortable during the outage. Johnson has resorted to using a generator to power her son's medical equipment, but the situation remains precarious.
As Houston works to recover from one of the worst thunderstorms the region has seen in decades, the community's resilience is being tested. The road to recovery will be long and arduous, but city officials and residents alike are determined to rebuild and restore normalcy in the wake of this devastating storm.