Deadly Storms Cause Havoc in Texas Communities, Leaving Residents Without Power
Tragedy strikes as one casualty is reported and over 700,000 households in Texas are plunged into darkness following severe storms that continue to wreak havoc on a state already struggling with a series of destructive weather events.
At least one person has tragically lost their life due to the powerful storms that hit Texas on Tuesday night. These storms left over 600,000 customers without power in the state, adding to the challenges faced by residents who have already endured a series of destructive and deadly storms in recent weeks.
The Dallas area experienced hurricane-force wind gusts during the storm, while Houston was later hit with strong winds in the afternoon. George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston recorded a wind gust of 75 mph, highlighting the intensity of the weather that swept through the city.
Around 40 miles northwest of Houston, a tragic incident occurred in Magnolia where a house under construction collapsed, resulting in the death of one person. The victim, identified as a "juvenile male" by the Magnolia Fire Department, was found in the debris by firefighters and pronounced dead.
According to Magnolia Fire Department Division Chief Jason Herrman, the collapse of the home was caused by strong winds during a thunderstorm that hit the area on Tuesday.
Videos taken in Houston and Dallas showed the aftermath of disaster and flooding on Tuesday. In north Dallas, footage from CNN displayed numerous cars stuck in a flooded street, with lightning flashing in the background. Meanwhile, in other areas, strong winds uprooted trees, causing damage to homes and knocking down fences in neighborhoods, leaving chaos in their wake.
Multiple vehicles were stranded in flood waters in North Dallas Tuesday.
Multiple vehicles were stranded in flood waters in North Dallas Tuesday.
Michael Beard/LSM
Power outages began to increase early Tuesday morning in Dallas and then spread south as storms moved across the state, as reported by PowerOutage.us. The majority of the outages, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, were concentrated in Dallas County. Officials in the county issued a disaster declaration and cautioned residents that the outages might persist for several days.
The White House is set to announce measures aimed at modernizing the electric grid, with the goal of reducing the frequency of outages. This initiative is intended to pave the way for a more reliable and efficient electrical system.
These storms have arrived while some residents are still grieving the loss of at least seven people from violent storms over Memorial Day weekend in the state. Across six states in the central US during the holiday period, at least two dozen people, including four children, lost their lives. Many communities are now facing significant damage to homes and businesses.
Sunday marked the busiest severe weather day of the year so far, with over 600 reports of strong winds or hail across more than 20 states. Reports included gusts exceeding 75 mph and hail the size of softballs. In addition, there were 26 tornado reports in 10 states. The storms caused destruction, turning homes and businesses into rubble, tossing cars, and knocking down power lines.
Parts of Texas and extreme western Louisiana were under the most serious threat of severe weather on Tuesday. The main threats with any storm included large hail, lightning, and wind gusts as strong as 80 mph. According to the National Weather Service, there was also a possibility of a few tornadoes.
The severe weather also caused trouble for many travelers. FlightAware data shows that over 600 flights flying to and from the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and the Dallas Love Field Airport were canceled, with more than 900 flights delayed at the two airports.
Over 75 flights at Houston's William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport have been canceled, with over 530 delayed. Power outages in Dallas may last for days.
It may take several days to completely restore power in the Dallas-Fort Worth area following the strong storms with hurricane-force winds on Tuesday morning. Dallas now joins Houston as another major Texas city facing significant damage to its power infrastructure due to severe weather events within a short period of time.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins warned that the power outage situation in Dallas will likely last for multiple days, similar to what was experienced recently in Harris County and Houston.
A derecho and tornado in mid-May blasted 100 mph wind gusts through the Houston metro, killing multiple people and knocking out power for days.
Storm damage is seen in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, area on May 28, 2024.
Storm damage is seen in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, area on May 28, 2024.
KTVT
The extent of damage to power infrastructure in the Dallas area is still being evaluated. Grant Cruise, a spokesperson for Oncor, the state's largest utility company, expressed concern about the current situation.
During a news conference on Tuesday, Cruise mentioned that a significant number of power lines were down due to the weather event. He also highlighted that the repairs needed may not be simple, with some areas requiring complete reconstruction.
Jenkins declared a disaster for Dallas County due to the storm damage. As Texans went to the polls for primary runoff elections, over a third of polling places in Dallas County experienced power outages.
Summerlike temperatures will decrease in Texas this week, however, individuals who are still without power or a dependable way to stay cool may still be at risk for heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
CNN’s Raja Razek, Gene Norman, and Andy Rose were contributors to this report.
Editor's P/S:
The recent storms in Texas have brought devastation to the state, leaving residents reeling from the aftermath. The tragic loss of life and widespread power outages add to the challenges faced by Texans who have already endured a series of destructive storms in recent weeks. It is heartbreaking to hear of the young victim in Magnolia, whose life was cut short by the collapse of a house under construction.
The extent of the damage caused by these storms is immense, with homes and businesses destroyed, trees uprooted, and fences knocked down. The power outages have left hundreds of thousands of people without essential services, and the White House's announcement of measures to modernize the electric grid is a welcome step towards reducing the frequency of such outages in the future. It is crucial that Texans receive the necessary support and resources to recover from these devastating storms and rebuild their lives.
