The Houston area is facing a daunting recovery process after deadly thunderstorms ripped through the region on Thursday, leaving at least seven people dead and hundreds of thousands without power. The storms, which brought winds of up to 100 mph (161 kph) and a confirmed tornado, shattered windows in high-rise buildings, downed trees, and caused widespread damage to the power transmission system. As the city works to clean up the debris and restore electricity, officials are warning residents about the risks of heat exhaustion and possible heat stroke due to rising temperatures over the weekend.
Mayor John Whitmire announced that four people were killed in the city due to the storms, with at least two fatalities caused by fallen trees and another by a collapsed crane. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez reported an additional three weather-related deaths, including a 57-year-old man who died while trying to move a downed electrical pole, an 85-year-old woman who died when a lightning strike sparked a fire in her trailer, and a 60-year-old man who was found dead after he went to his truck to plug in his oxygen tank due to the power outage.
The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado with peak winds of 110 mph touched down near the northwest Houston suburb of Cypress, contributing to the widespread damage. As of Friday evening, more than 567,000 customers remained without power in Texas, with over 531,000 of those in and around Harris County, home to more than 4.7 million people.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, the county's top elected official, warned that restoring all power could take considerably longer than initially anticipated. "We are going to have to talk about this disaster in weeks, not days," Hidalgo said on Friday. The prolonged power outages, combined with temperatures expected to reach around 90 degrees (32.2 C) over the weekend, have raised concerns about the potential for heat-related illnesses among residents.
The Houston Health Department announced plans to distribute 400 free portable air conditioners to area seniors, people with disabilities, and caregivers of disabled children to help mitigate the risk of heat exhaustion. The National Weather Service in Houston also urged residents to be cautious during the cleanup process and to be aware of the symptoms of heat exhaustion.
The widespread destruction brought much of Houston to a standstill, with school districts canceling classes for more than 400,000 students and government offices closing. Debris, shattered glass, and downed power lines littered the streets, making travel hazardous. Mayor Whitmire warned that police, including state troopers sent to the area, were out in force to prevent looting.
Noelle Delgado, executive director of Houston Pets Alive, an animal rescue organization, described the damage to their facility as severe, with the awning ripped off, the sign mangled, and water leaking inside. She hoped to find foster homes for the more than 30 dogs and cats in their care, as the power outage and rising temperatures posed a risk to the animals' well-being.
The challenges faced by utility companies in restoring power are compounded by the damage to both transmission and distribution systems, a rare occurrence according to power and energy expert Alexandria von Meier. The time required to make repairs will depend on factors such as damage assessment, equipment replacement, roadwork access, and workforce availability. Centerpoint Energy deployed 1,000 employees on Friday and requested an additional 5,000 line workers and vegetation professionals to assist in the restoration efforts.
President Joe Biden issued a major disaster declaration on Friday night, freeing up federal assistance for seven Southeast Texas counties affected by the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding that have battered the region since April 26. This marks the second time this month that the Houston area has been hit by heavy storms, following incidents during the first week of May that led to numerous high-water rescues.
