Multiple tornadoes have swept through the Houston area, marking the second severe weather event to hit the region over the past week.
On Saturday, the storms left one person dead and several others injured.
Additionally, the storms have been causing widespread damage to homes, schools, and businesses.
Insane.
This violent, long-track #Tornado appears to have been on the ground/water for nearly 100+ miles now.
It crossed south of Kemah and #Galveston Bay and is now south of #LakeCharles, LA.
Its parent Supercell developed south of #Houston, near Alvin, almost 5 hours ago. pic.twitter.com/UggK9kJURo
— Collin Myers (@collinmyerswx) December 28, 2024
Early Saturday, tornadoes were reported in Brazoria County and the small cities of Cleveland and Katy, impacting areas surrounding Houston, a city with a population of over 2 million.
In northern Brazoria County, one death was confirmed along with four noncritical injuries.
The National Weather Service issued a rare “particularly dangerous situation” tornado watch on Saturday for parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas as the storm system moved east.
This warning, reserved for conditions that could produce long-lived and violent tornadoes, remained in effect until 9 p.m. CT.
By 5 p.m. ET, all tornado watches and warnings for the Houston area had been lifted.
In Porter, a community located north of Houston, a tornado caused significant destruction.
Damage from North Houston tornado just a bit ago, sent by a friend who was hit by it: pic.twitter.com/1C74dMGDY8
— Ryan G (@RyanG28094277) December 28, 2024
Footage from the aftermath shows homes and buildings damaged, with debris scattered across fields.
Several tornados in Texas, north of the greater Houston area.
Video of the aftermath showing significant damage in Porter Heights, Texas.
One fatality reported with searches still active. pic.twitter.com/fmS61dng1R
— Frank Fighting For Freedom (@thinktankfranks) December 29, 2024
One resident described the devastation in their neighborhood, stating:
“A house in the neighborhood is like gone.
“The next one, the roof is completely off.
“Electrical poles are down on Porter Lane.
“It just kept going, causing so much destruction.”
Katy, another city impacted by the storms, also saw extensive damage.
A resident from Katy described the experience as a “scary three minutes” as the tornado rapidly moved through their area.
Footage of a huge tornado that ripped through eastern Texas today near the Houston area.
One person confirmed de*d, several more injured, and dozens of homes destroyed.
At least Texas has a governor to help his residents since you know Biden is useless.pic.twitter.com/x4qbt3I5aj
— Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) December 29, 2024
In Brazoria County, the small city of Manvel experienced significant damage to homes, schools, and businesses.
Mayor Daniel Davis described the situation, noting that many residents are without power, and those relying on wells and septic systems are facing additional challenges.
The tornadoes on Saturday followed similar severe weather earlier in the week.
On Thursday, several tornadoes were reported in the Houston area, including in El Campo, located west of the city.
These back-to-back storms have disrupted the holiday season for many residents, with Christmas just days earlier and New Year’s celebrations approaching.
As the storm system moved eastward into Mississippi, it claimed the life of a 16-year-old in the city of Natchez.
A tree fell on the teenager’s home, trapping the family inside.
Family members managed to escape, but the teenager did not survive.
Four additional injuries were reported, including two in Natchez and two in Franklin County, which is located south of Jackson, Mississippi’s capital.
Authorities across the affected regions are assessing the damage and beginning recovery efforts.
With many homes, schools, and businesses heavily damaged, power outages remain a significant concern for residents.
Emergency responders and utility crews are working to restore normalcy to the impacted areas.
The severe weather has added to the challenges for families traveling and celebrating during the holiday season.
As cleanup efforts continue, the communities affected by these destructive tornadoes face a long road to recovery.
