A powerful storm with hurricane-force winds struck Houston on Thursday, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least four people. The fierce winds, ranging from 80 to 100 miles per hour, wreaked havoc across the city, causing extensive damage to high-rise buildings and leaving approximately 800,000 homes without electricity.
Mayor John Whitmire addressed the public from the city’s emergency operations center, describing a scene of widespread destruction. Downtown Houston and its bustling commercial districts were particularly hard-hit, with fallen power lines and shattered glass scattered across the streets. Traffic came to a standstill as streetlights failed, plunging large areas of the city into darkness.
In an urgent plea to residents, Mayor Whitmire advised everyone to remain indoors and steer clear of the most affected downtown areas to ensure their safety. The storm’s impact underscores the vulnerability of urban centers to extreme weather events, highlighting the need for robust infrastructure and emergency preparedness to mitigate future disasters.
Reference(s):
Four deaths confirmed from severe storm that ravaged Houston
cgtn.com
