By Houston faces the prospect of prolonged power outages following a devastating thunderstorm that swept through the city with hurricane-force winds, leaving nearly one million homes and businesses without electricity, as first reported by The Associated Press.
The violent storm, which struck on Thursday, caused widespread destruction, blowing out windows in downtown high-rises and overturning vehicles.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, the county’s top elected official, stated that crews are still assessing the extent of the damage and the number of casualties.
With several transmission towers down, Hidalgo urged residents to be patient as restoration efforts continue. Thousands of utility workers are en route to the area, and power has already been restored to approximately 200,000 customers.
“We are going to have to talk about this disaster in weeks, not days,” Hidalgo emphasized.
The storm’s ferocity brought Houston to a halt. Streets are cluttered with fallen trees, debris, and shattered glass. Schools in the Houston area canceled classes for more than 400,000 students, and government offices were closed.
The severe weather also affected the suburbs, with emergency officials in Montgomery County describing the damage to transmission lines as “catastrophic.”
The storm’s impact isn’t confined to Houston. The Gulf Coast states are bracing for more severe thunderstorms, with the potential for tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds.
The National Weather Service has issued flood watches and warnings for Houston and eastern areas.
City officials are urging people to avoid downtown and stay off roads.
