In brief
On Monday, a destructive tornado swept through neighborhoods north of Houston, damaging more than 100 homes and uprooting trees. While the storm left a path of destruction, including toppled power lines and blocked roads, no injuries were reported. Clean-up efforts are underway as residents begin to assess the damage. Local officials continue to address utility issues and assist with recovery efforts.
HOUSTON (AP) — A tornado that raced through residential areas north of Houston damaged more than 100 homes, tearing off roofs, moving garages off their foundations, and smashing windows, authorities in Texas reported.
No injuries were reported in the storm that uprooted trees, downed power lines, and created paths of debris throughout some neighborhoods.
Heavy fog made it difficult to assess all the damage Tuesday morning, but calmer weather conditions were expected to prevail in the area. Heavy rain and severe thunderstorms were anticipated farther south during the day, which is considered one of the busiest travel days of the Thanksgiving holiday period, according to the National Weather Service.
Many residents hunkered down in their homes, with over 20,000 customers losing power at one point during the storm.
“I had the door and I was trying to hold it shut so that nothing would end up in the house,” said Miriam Harris, a resident who suffered roof and tree damage along with some destruction to her holiday light display.
Officials in Klein, about 25 miles north of Houston, are currently addressing multiple reported gas leaks, clearing trees that have blocked roads, and cleaning debris around homes and businesses, said Ja’Milla Lomas, a spokesperson for the Klein Fire Department. Significant damage was also reported in Cypress and Spring.
Emergency crews sought shelter in a resident’s garage as high winds moved through the area, according to the Cy-Fair Fire Department. Furthermore, photos and drone footage exhibited roofs stripped of shingles while debris littered the roads.
The Houston Fire Department has deployed a saw team to cut and remove toppled trees, as the weather service had issued a tornado watch for southeastern Texas, including Houston, lasting until 1 a.m. Tuesday, alongside a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of the region.
