Severe Storm Ravages Texas, Leaving Four Dead and Nearly One Million Powerless

A potent storm ravaged Texas, claiming the lives of at least four individuals and wreaking havoc with ferocious winds that shattered windows, toppled trees, and plunged nearly a million people into darkness.

This swift-moving tempest, the second to pummel Houston within weeks, barreled through southeastern Texas on Thursday, unleashing gusts reaching speeds of up to 160 kmph (100 mph), akin to those witnessed during Hurricane Ike’s devastating impact in 2008, which resulted in nearly 200 fatalities.

The National Weather Service issued grave warnings of flash floods posing peril to lives in eastern Texas and western Louisiana.

Roads submerged, power lines and trees felled, rendering almost a million inhabitants powerless in Houston and its environs.

Authorities implored citizens to steer clear of the roads, many rendered impassable, with traffic signals expected to remain offline throughout the night.

“Stay indoors tonight, refrain from commuting tomorrow unless you’re indispensable. Prioritize staying home and safeguarding your loved ones,” urged Houston mayor John Whitmire during an evening briefing.

“Our emergency responders are tirelessly at work around the clock.”

Mayor Whitmire confirmed the storm’s toll, acknowledging four fatalities, at least two of which resulted from falling trees, while another tragedy unfolded when a crane succumbed to fierce winds.

Social media posts showcased widespread structural damage, with downtown hotels and office buildings bearing the brunt of shattered windows, scattering glass across the streets below.

In downtown Houston, a guest captured a harrowing scene at the Hyatt Regency as water inundated the interior through blown-out windows.

“Downtown is reeling from the aftermath,” remarked Mayor Whitmire.

The mayor disclosed a backlog of emergency calls being addressed by first responders, supplemented by reinforcements from the state’s Department of Public Safety to secure the affected areas.

The Houston Independent School District, Texas’ largest public school system, declared the cancellation of classes for Friday.

Approximately 855,000 customers languished without electricity in and around Harris County, encompassing Houston, according to poweroutage.us.

In outlying suburban regions, emergency officials decried “catastrophic” damage to transmission lines, cautioning of prolonged power outages spanning several days. Operations briefly halted at Houston’s major airports as sustained winds exceeding 60 mph (96 kph) were recorded at Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Though the storm swept through swiftly, flood alerts persisted for Houston and its eastern vicinities, alongside severe thunderstorm warnings issued across extensive swathes of Louisiana.

This marks the second tempest to lash Texas this month, following early May’s onslaught that spurred numerous high-water rescues, including rooftop evacuations from flooded homes.

Prior to this, torrential rains, flooding, and tornadoes had already ground the region to a halt in April.