Deadly Storm Unleashes Fury Houston, Texas - May 17.
Severe thunderstorms struck southeastern Texas for the second time this month, wreaking havoc on the region. The brutal weather system claimed at least four lives, caused widespread damage, and left nearly 900,000 homes and businesses in the Houston area powerless.
Flash floods and severe thunderstorms became a terrifying reality for multiple counties. The National Weather Service in Houston warned residents of the potential for damaging winds, tornadoes, and urged them to seek immediate shelter.
The storm's fury flooded streets, toppled trees, and downed power lines across the region. Video showcased the destruction, with shattered windows littering the streets below a damaged downtown Houston office building. City officials pleaded with residents to stay off the roads due to impassable conditions and inoperable traffic lights.
The relentless weather grounded flights at Houston's two major airports. Furthermore, poweroutage reported over 870,000 customers in and around Harris County, home to Houston and over 4.7 million residents, plunged into darkness. This latest storm comes on the heels of heavy rain that slammed the region earlier in May, leading to numerous high-water rescues.
The Houston Independent School District, recognizing the impact of the storm, cancelled classes on Friday for all its 274 campuses.
Recovery efforts are undoubtedly underway as the city grapples with the aftermath of this destructive weather event.