Following a powerful storm that wreaked havoc across Houston, city officials reported that over 100,000 gallons of sewage spilled across three locations due to the intense conditions. Despite this, residents were reassured that the drinking water in Houston remained safe. The storm, which struck on Thursday, brought hurricane-strength winds that caused significant damage more akin to a hurricane than a typical tornado season event.
One notable incident occurred at a popular dance club in downtown Houston, where the fierce winds tore off the back wall of the establishment, causing nearly three stories' worth of bricks to collapse onto a parking lot, crushing a car. The downtown area bore the brunt of the storm's impact, with high-rise building windows blown out, several fatalities from falling trees, and a toppled crane.
The aftermath of the storm left extensive devastation throughout downtown Houston, with power outages affecting nearly a million people at its peak. City officials estimated that it could take several weeks to fully restore electrical power across Harris County and other parts of southeast Texas. The restoration process is expected to be gradual, with officials cautioning that it may be a challenging period for residents.
Looking ahead, the region faces additional challenges as the weekend approaches, with temperatures expected to soar and heat indexes reaching close to 100 degrees. This forecast, coupled with the ongoing power outages affecting tens of thousands of individuals, is anticipated to create further difficulties for the Houston area and surrounding regions in Southeast Texas.
