OAN’s James Myers
10:25am – Friday, May 17, 2024
Emergency crews in southeast Texas began clearing debris and quelling flooding early Friday after powerful storms devastated the Longhorn State, killing at least four people and leaving about 800,000 customers without power. We were investigating the situation.
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Houston Mayor John Whitmire (D-Texas) said, “We have a storm with winds of 160 miles per hour, comparable to Hurricane Ike, and it is causing significant damage to downtown,” adding that the area was also affected by tornadoes. He added that he may have been a victim of damage.
Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pena told reporters that at least two people were killed in the falling tree. The other incident was caused by a crane that was knocked over by the wind.
Whitmer urged people to “please stay home.”
“There are trees on the roads in Houston,” Whitmire said.
Additionally, the mayor said the city is dealing with a “backlog” of 911 emergency calls.
The storm is now heading further east, prompting New Orleans residents to “evacuate now!”by local branch of national weather bureauHe also said winds of up to 110 mph could destroy Louisiana’s largest city and its surrounding areas.
And in Texas, the overnight destruction was evident before dawn, with strong winds blowing through the windows of skyscrapers in downtown Houston and flooding flooding areas.
“I know that many people have experienced and are still living through horrific conditions as a result of the terrifying winds that swept through our county tonight,” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said in a statement.
“Damage assessments are ongoing and until those assessments are complete we won’t know how long it will take to clear the debris, but initial reports indicate that the debris appears to be very significant.” said Hidalgo.
He added: “Until we fully understand the scale of this incident, all cards are in place to recover as quickly as possible.”
Due to bad weather, flight operations were suspended at Houston’s two major airports. Sustained winds of 60 mph were recorded at Busch Intercontinental Airport.
The Houston Independent School District announced Friday it would close all schools.
“Please avoid roadways if possible, but please be careful if you do go out and be aware of debris,” Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez wrote on social media.
The latest chaotic weather comes after severe storms hit the region in the first week of May, resulting in multiple high water rescues, including one from the roof of a flooded home.
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