Some residents could be without power for weeks after deadly storm strikes Houston area

It could be weeks before life returns to normal for some Houstonians as the city reels from the impact of Thursday’s deadly storm .

Strong winds and a tornado ripped through the Houston area, killing at least four people and leaving significant infrastructure damage in their wake. Winds up to 110 mph knocked out power for nearly 1 million CenterPoint customers, and 740,000 homes and businesses were still without electricity as of Friday morning.

“It was fierce, it was intense, it was quick, and most Houstonians didn’t have time to place themselves out of harm’s way,” Mayor John Whitmire said Friday.

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Deadly storm hits Houston area, knocking out power for nearly 900,000 CenterPoint customers

But while the fast-moving storm was over relatively quickly, the recovery process might not be, city and county officials warned Friday.

Whitmire said officials are currently investigating whether a reported fifth death is related to Thursday’s disaster. He emphasized that first responders are “spread thin,” and Houstonians should continue to stay home.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said there are at least 10 transmission line towers down and it could take several weeks for some residents to regain power. However, officials should know by Saturday if power could be restored sooner by routing electricity around the downed lines.

“We are going to have to talk about this disaster in weeks, not days,” Hidalgo said Friday morning.

Houston storm damage was widespread

Officials said the storm damage is unevenly scattered throughout the county, but is particularly concentrated in downtown Houston and Cypress, where a tornado touched down.

The twister’s winds reached a peak of 110 mph, classifying it as an EF1. The EF scale , which ranges from zero to five, rates tornados based on wind speeds and potential damages.

Hidalgo, who flew around in a helicopter for over an hour on Friday afternoon to survey damage, said upon landing that while there is an ample number of trees on homes and plenty of debris, the damage does not seem as catastrophic as initially expected.

Still, residents should avoid downtown at all costs, officials warned. As the storm tore through the city, its high winds shattered the windows of high-rise buildings, leaving broken glass and debris “in every direction,” Whitmire said. He also noted that 2,500 traffic lights are not functioning properly, and people need to stay off the roads to allow work crews to restore them.

What’s new in this story:

• It could be weeks before some Houstonians regain power
• Officials are investigating whether a fifth death was caused by Thursday’s weather
• 740,000 CenterPoint customers are still without power

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Hidalgo said she signed a disaster declaration Friday morning to speed up access to emergency resources. In a statement, Gov. Greg Abbott said he’s in contact with local officials to “do everything we can to protect Texans and help our communities recover.”

Torrential rain caused major flooding across the Houston area two weeks ago, prompting mandatory evacuations as water levels nearly reached those during Hurricane Harvey. Hidalgo said she is requesting the White House consider Thursday’s storm and the flooding a joint disaster, which would open up more funding and emergency assistance.

“If we have two disasters back-to-back, they’re connected, they’re combined,” Hidalgo said. “(Biden) is asking how he can help, and I’ve got an answer for him.”

The status of fuel supplies is being constantly evaluated, but the resources are available right now, said Mark Sloan, Harris County Homeland Security & Emergency Management coordinator.

“Once those stores and convenience stores and gas stations come back online, they will be replenished,” Sloan said.

Storms batter Houston ISD campuses

Strong winds and trees damaged dozens of HISD campuses and left 136 without power Friday.

The wreckage could have lingering impacts — several campuses were more significantly damaged, including Robinson, Paige, Sinclair and Pugh Elementary Schools. Some students may have to attend class at an alternative location while the destruction is repaired, HISD officials said, Friday.

Additionally, officials said a bus was struck on Hardy Toll Road during the storm, injuring two Westside High School students, both of whom are home and recovering.

HISD will communicate directly with affected families before students return to school Monday.

311 calls skyrocket

Houstonians have flooded the city’s non-emergency line with requests for services since Thursday’s disaster.

On Thursday and Friday, nearly 600 callers reported street hazards in Houston – more than 15 times as many callers who reported hazards the day before the storm.

Another 120 residents have requested help after strong winds uprooted entire trees.

Residents should call 311 to report downed power lines, fallen trees or other hazards that impact safety. Only call 911 for life-threatening emergencies.

Houston cooling centers to provide relief

The city of Houston will open a number of cooling centers Friday for residents to escape from the heat.

The following centers are open between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.:

• Kingwood Community Center
• Stude Park Community Center

The following centers are open between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.:

• Acres Homes Multi Service Center
• Sunnyside Multi Service Center
• Metropolitan Multi Service Center

Use our interactive map to find the facility closest to you. Call 311 if you need a free ride or more assistance.