Severe thunderstorms pounded Texas on Thursday night, bringing heavy rain, damaging winds and dangerous flooding to parts of the state already flooded this month, killing four people and leaving nearly a million people without power.
There were reports of windows blown out, office building walls caved in and power lines down across Houston as powerful storms pounded the downtown area. Officials announced at a press conference that four people had died. At least two people were killed by falling trees and one person was killed in an accident involving a crane that was toppled by strong winds, Fire Chief Samuel Peña said.
Much of Houston was hit by 160 mph winds, comparable to speeds seen during Hurricane Ike, but “we had some storm damage mixed in,” the city's mayor, John Whitmire, said at a news conference. Ta. He said it could take at least 24 hours for power to be restored, and up to 48 hours in some areas of the city.
The Houston Public School District announced Friday that all schools will be closed. Emergency responders warned residents to stay home and said most traffic lights were down across the city and firefighters had to remove live power lines from major highways.
Local news broadcasts reported significant damage in downtown Houston, with winds twisting metal signposts and shattering glass.
Forecasters made a series of announcements. flash flood warning A statewide warning issued in the early afternoon warned Texans in these areas to seek higher ground and avoid driving on flooded roads.
image and Videos circulating on social media Emerging from east central Texas on Thursday showed a vehicle that appeared to be struggling I drove on flooded roads in College Station, Texas, where a flash flood warning was in effect until the evening.
A video posted in the evening showed strong winds blowing away a large panel structure at Minute Maid Park, where the Houston Astros were playing the Oakland Athletics.
The Weather Prediction Center announced early Thursday that more than 12 million people across Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi face the threat of excessive rainfall that could cause flash flooding, and by Thursday night in Houston. It warned of heavy rain and possible flooding in the northern part of the region.
Lina Hidalgo, the head of Harris County, which includes Houston, previously said. Social media Rain was expected to move through Harris County “fairly quickly” Thursday night.
“However, the worst-case scenario is that heavy rain could hit the East Branch of the San Jacinto River, impacting residents and ultimately causing further flooding into the weekend,” she said.
Parts of Harris County, including areas near the San Jacinto River, were already experiencing major flooding earlier this month. In response to the flooding, Hidalgo issued a disaster declaration that brought federal aid to Harris County residents affected by the storm.
