4 dead after severe storms rip through Houston; nearly 1M without power

[brooklynite]

Source: Houston Chronicle

Houston Mayor John Whitmire confirmed in a press conference Thursday night that four people have died in the severe storms that slammed Houston earlier in the evening.

Whitmire added that non-essential personnel should stay home Friday and estimated that it can take up to 48 hours for a resumption of power across the area. Houston ISD canceled all classes Friday, as well.

The National Weather Service in Houston said "Severe thunderstorms moving west of the Houston metro area have a history of producing damaging winds. Remain alert for a possible tornado. Take shelter if you are in the path of this storm!"

...snip...

The NOAA's Weather Prediction Center has issued a rare "high risk" of flash flooding north of Houston, including areas like Huntsville, Livingston and Trinity. A flood watch is in effect Thursday afternoon and night along and north of I-10, including in Houston and Harris County.
The time frame of concern begins around 2-4 p.m. across northern Houston, the National Weather Service in Galveston said. The weather predictors say it's unclear when the heavy storms will begin to progress southward. "Despite the uncertainty, the boundary will eventually push southward towards the coast by the evening or overnight hours, taking its rain and thunderstorm activity with it," the NWS wrote in its forecaster's discussion.





Read more: https://www.chron.com/weather/article/houston-weather-storms-flooding-19461571.php

[Talitha]

1. We tried to warn them about climate change for decades...

SO sorry innocent victims always pay for bad political choices.

[Igel]

5. This kind of thing's been happening for hundreds of years.

But until maybe 20 years ago, that was farmland.

Statistics, not individual events, are what's important in this kind of science.

[TxGuitar]

6. Correct-

As someone who has lived in the Houston area since 1972, these storms are not unusual, especially in May/early June. This one just happened to be very severe and it didn't help that it happened at rush hour and that the electrical towers came down due to the very high winds-- (the electrical towers were said to be brought down by "straight line wind" as opposed to tornadic activity (which was also very active last evening)

[TBF]

8. Well Houston itself votes dem so many heard you -

but the suburbs of course are very red (like a lot of cities).

I'm fortunate to live south of the city where folks are more compassionate.

My husband drove in this morning but went very early. He's super busy so I don't bother him during the day - I'll find out later what it looks like. I know last night a lot of windows and revolving doors were blowing out. The big Hyatt had skylights blown out so water entered. All of these skyscrapers will be ok due to insurance. Unfortunately, in the northwest suburbs where the huge utility poles were literally knocked down it will be a while to restore power. That's harder for working people, you lose your freezer full of food etc. Some folks have their own generators (getting to be more & more with payment plans available - but these are still folks who make decent money). It is the poor who always suffer the most, every day, and during these kinds of events.

[TxGuitar]

10. I don't know where you live

But Brazoria county is solidly red. It is south of Harris. Compare to Fort Bend which is west and southwest of Harris. It is blue. So I would say the area west of Houston is the bluest of the surrounding counties, Montgomery, Brazoria, Galveston who all voted for Trump

[TBF]

13. It's actually a little more complicated than that -

given the gerrymandering that has happened the past few years.

I'm not giving any more identifying info than that ... for obvious reasons.

[cannabis_flower]

11. I live in Spring Branch

Near Hammerly and Wirt. This is to the north and west of Memorial Park.

Trees down everywhere. My neighbor’s dog was thrown, doghouse and all over the fence. And was scratching by the dog to get inside

[TBF]

14. I've seen photos from friends in the Heights too -

they have a lot of trees down. So much damage ...

[TxGuitar]

16. It does look like the city

Took a lot of damage.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. Downtown Houston is closed

Link to tweet

This is the office building that I used to work at a long time ago

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[ZonkerHarris]

3. damn. they were just about to follow Florida in outlawing the words Climate Change. so close.

[Old Crank]

4. Looks like they need to add to the building codes.

Build everything to Cat 5 and the tornado equivalent.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

7. Downtown Houston looks horrible

I have power at my home but my firm's office is without power.
Downtown Houston looks horrible

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[TBF]

9. This link (gift) should take you to a story about the folks killed last night

in the storm - very sad. Working folks, a mom trying to move her car off the street, etc.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/houston-storm-victims-identities-four-dead-19463538.php?utm_content=cta&sid=59a7095024c17c0f2e6c6f43&ss=A&st_rid=1cebd2c3-0280-4cdc-b85a-e69e8cbf1fab&utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_term=news&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaG91c3RvbmNocm9uaWNsZS5jb20vbmV3cy9ob3VzdG9uLXRleGFzL2FydGljbGUvaG91c3Rvbi1zdG9ybS12aWN0aW1zLWlkZW50aXRpZXMtZm91ci1kZWFkLTE5NDYzNTM4LnBocA%3D%3D&time=MTcxNTk1OTU1MjE1Mg%3D%3D&rid=MWNlYmQyYzMtMDI4MC00Y2RjLWI4NWEtZTY5ZThjYmYxZmFi&sharecount=Mg%3D%3D

[ananda]

12. That was like a hurricane, in mid May.

Weird

[TBF]

15. Later this afternoon one of the weathermen confirmed there was a tornado

within the derecho that hit Cypress. Nasty stuff, and we're just at the start of hurricane season in the coming weeks.

[ananda]

17. Good vibes!

Take care.