The death toll from storms that hit Texas this week rose to seven on Saturday, with massive power outages that caused traffic chaos, sewage flooding and posed new health threats as near triple-digit temperatures were forecast. 500,000 people are still suffering. .
Severe thunderstorms rolled into the Houston area Thursday, creating a widespread, prolonged storm known as a “derecho,” with wind gusts up to 160 miles per hour, blowing out windows in high-rise buildings, downing trees and destroying high-voltage power lines. did. Tower.
More than 1 million people were initially in the dark, but at least 500,000 people remain without power Saturday. Some power outages could last several weeks, according to reports.
Tornadoes also touched down in two Texas counties and southeastern Louisiana, causing strong winds and power outages.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the dead included an 85-year-old woman whose home was struck by lightning and caught fire, and a 60-year-old man who tried to power his oxygen tank with his car. It is said that it was
The other two were killed by falling trees. I am 31 years old and pregnant with four children..
Third person dies in crane accident According to officials.
School districts canceled classes for more than 400,000 students, government offices were closed and officials urged people to avoid downtown areas and stay off the roads. Many areas are flooded or lined with downed power lines. broken traffic lightAt least 2,500 of those people were out, Houston Mayor John Whitmire said.
whitmyer Warning to potential looters of X “Police are on the scene, including 50 state troopers who were sent to the area to prevent looting.”
Rain, wind and power outages caused sewage to overflow at three locations in the city, including a sewage treatment plant. Houston’s KPRC-TV reported. Officials said drinking water remains safe, but Houston Public Works warned users of private wells to monitor their supplies.
The National Weather Service classified this devastating weather event as: derecho. That determination requires winds of at least 90 mph, covering 400 miles of sustained wind damage up to 60 miles wide, said Fox Weather meteorologist Cody Blood.
The highest recorded wind speed was 84 mph, but damage surveys indicate wind speeds reached 160 mph. Brown said the storm generally extended from the San Antonio-Austin area into parts of Mississippi and Alabama.
In addition to property damage, power transmission towers were toppled and the main power grid was destroyed. According to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo,The top elected official in the county.
The city of Houston announced it has opened a location in X that offers water, ice and phone charging stations.
The White House on Friday disaster declaration Ordered federal aid to support recovery efforts.
The mercury in Houston reached 90 degrees by noon Saturday. Brown said it is expected to rise to 95 on Sunday and approach triple digits by midweek.
“For people who don’t have air conditioning, it’s definitely not comfortable, and that doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon,” Brad said.
But it will be dry, he added.
“I don’t know what’s more important for this region: staying away from severe storms or dealing with the heat as we recover,” he says. “I’m sure they’ll win the fair weather.”
N.W.S. Warned with X: “Please do not push yourself too hard while cleaning up.” The city has also issued a warning for poor air quality for the weekend.
with post wire
