Deadly storms in the Houston area have left at least seven people dead while causing widespread destruction, leaving hundreds of thousands without power. As the cleanup process begins, residents are facing smog warnings and scorching temperatures, with highs expected around 90 degrees and heat indexes nearing 100 degrees into the coming week. The Houston Health Department is distributing portable air conditioners to those in need to combat the heat and has opened cooling centers throughout the area.
In addition to power outages, the storms also brought heavy rainfall, flooding, and tornadoes to parts of eastern Louisiana and central Alabama. More than 500,000 homes and businesses in Texas remained without electricity by midday Saturday, with an additional 21,000 customers without power in Louisiana. CenterPoint Energy, which has deployed 1,000 employees and requested 5,000 more, warned that power restoration could take several days or longer in some areas due to severe damage to infrastructure.
The storm caught many off guard, resulting in the deaths of at least seven individuals and causing significant damage to homes and businesses. School districts in the Houston area canceled classes on Friday for over 400,000 students, and government offices were closed. Houston Mayor John Whitmire reported that the speed and intensity of the storm caught many residents by surprise, with police out in force to prevent looting in affected areas.
Recovery efforts are underway, with Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Mayor Whitmire signing disaster declarations to access state and federal assistance. President Joe Biden also declared a disaster, making federal funding available to residents in seven Texas counties affected by severe storms, winds, tornadoes, and flooding. As residents work to clean up and restore power, they are urged to prioritize their health and safety during the cleanup process to avoid heat-related illnesses or injuries.
Utility companies are facing challenges in repairing downed power lines and damaged infrastructure, with many areas facing outages that could last days or longer. Customers are reminded to have repairs completed by qualified electricians before service can be restored to ensure safety. High-voltage transmission towers were torn apart, adding complexity to the restoration process, which will depend on a variety of factors, including damage assessments, equipment replacement, and workforce availability.
As the cleanup and recovery efforts continue, residents are encouraged to stay informed of weather alerts, take precautions against the heat, and follow instructions from local authorities. Community support and assistance from state and federal agencies are being mobilized to help those affected by the storms. Despite the challenges and devastation caused by the severe weather, residents are coming together to help each other and work towards restoring normalcy in the impacted areas.
