HOUSTON, Texas – Seven people are confirmed dead and hundreds of thousands remain without power after powerful thunderstorms slammed southeastern Texas on Thursday, May 18th. The storm, packing winds exceeding 110 mph (177 km/h), caused widespread damage and power outages that could take weeks to fully restore.
Falling trees, downed power lines, and lightning strikes were the primary causes of the fatalities. The storm system has moved eastward towards Louisiana, prompting flood warnings along the Gulf Coast.
Officials initially reported four deaths on Thursday, but that number rose to seven after three additional fatalities were confirmed on Friday evening. During a press conference on Friday, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, the county’s top elected official, revealed that at least two tornadoes touched down in the region during the storm.
The city of Houston bore the brunt of the damage. Traffic lights were knocked out, office buildings sustained significant window damage, and streets were littered with shattered glass. School closures were implemented across the Houston Independent School District.
Flash flood and severe thunderstorm warnings remain in effect for several counties, according to the National Weather Service office in Houston. As of Friday evening, power outages impacted approximately 600,000 homes and businesses, a decrease from the nearly one million customers who lost power initially.
This devastating storm marks the second deadly weather event to strike the Houston area in just six weeks. Last month, a tornado ripped through the suburb of Katy, leaving one person dead and injuring ten others.
