- Houses and businesses in the Houston region are attempting to clean up and regain power.
- Strong gusts reaching up to 100 mph on Thursday destroyed glass in downtown Houston.
- The Houston region has been alerted to the possibility of poor air quality this weekend in addition to the heat.
In the wake of devastating storms that left nearly a million people without electricity, thousands of houses and businesses in the Houston region are attempting to clean up and regain power.
The Houston National Weather Service issued a warning, cautioning residents not to overdo it while cleaning up and informing them of the signs of heat fatigue. According to PowerOutage.us, the number of houses and businesses without electricity in the area on Friday night was over 555,000, a decrease from nearly one million.
Houston storm
Strong gusts reaching up to 100 mph on Thursday destroyed glass in downtown Houston, and a tornado made landfall close to the Cypress suburb in northwest Houston. The storms that stormed across Harris County, which encompasses Houston, claimed the lives of at least four individuals.
Judge Lina Hidalgo of Harris County stated on Friday that certain neighborhoods would need “weeks” to get their power back.
The Houston Health Department declared that it would give away 400 free portable air conditioners to the elderly, disabled, and parents of children with impairments in the region. The Houston region has been alerted to the possibility of poor air quality this weekend in addition to the heat. There was a chance of heavy rain in eastern Louisiana and central Alabama, and there was a flash flood warning in some areas of Louisiana until Saturday.
A large portion of Houston was rendered impassable due to the extensive devastation, leaving streets covered in broken glass, trees, and debris.
Government offices were closed on Friday in conjunction with the cancellation of classes for nearly 400,000 students by school districts in the Houston region. The roadways were flooded and strewn with fallen power wires and broken traffic lights, and city officials advised residents to avoid going downtown.
State troopers were among the many police officers stationed in the area to deter looting, while Houston Mayor John Whitmire issued a warning. Hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and strong winds since April 26 prompted President Joe Biden to declare a disaster in seven counties in Texas, including Harris. People impacted by the disasters can now access federal money thanks to his action.
