NW Harris County Tornado Aftermath: Cleanup and Storm Tracking

Tornado Aftermath and Damage

• 🌪️ A confirmed tornado caused significant damage in northwest Harris County neighborhoods, downing power lines, snapping trees, and collapsing a small building.
• 🏠 In the Summer Grove area, over 100 homes were damaged, with mature trees snapped and uprooted, and entire garages lifted and moved.
• 💥 In Cypress, subdivisions like Barker Lake and Rita West experienced extensive damage, including snapped trees, downed fences, and holes torn into homes.
• 🏢 A maintenance building at Harris County Emergency Services District 11 had its roof and back wall ripped off, with two men inside shielding themselves.

Storm Tracking and Power Outages

• ⚡ Centerpoint reported over 4,000 customers without power, down from a peak of 27,000 after the storms.
• ⚠️ A tornado watch remained in effect for east Harris County and surrounding areas as storms moved toward the coast.
• 🌊 Strong thunderstorms were observed near the coast, impacting Galveston Island and Galveston County.
• 🌦️ Lingering showers were expected early Tuesday morning, with clear skies and a high of 82°F predicted for Tuesday.

Community Response and Safety

• ❤️ Houstonians demonstrated their community spirit by helping neighbors in need during the cleanup.
• 🚨 The constable's office deployed DPS troopers to protect property while power remained off.
• 🏠 Residents took shelter in laundry rooms or closets, with many able to walk away uninjured due to quick action.
• 🌲 In Champions Forest, a downed utility wire sparked a small fire in a tree, which was quickly contained by crews.
• ⚠️ Some homes, like one in Cypress, were deemed structurally unsafe, preventing residents from staying in them.

Storm Experience and Warnings

• 💨 Residents described intense winds, with sounds of whistling, glass breaking, trees falling, and thuds on roofs.
• 🔊 Some heard warnings, then silence, followed by sounds of torrential rain and things being ripped off buildings.
• 📱 Viewers were encouraged to download the KHOU11 mobile app for breaking weather alerts and real-time updates.