4 people dead after storms ripped through Houston, city officials say

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Mayor John Whitmire’s office reported that up to four individuals lost their lives as destructive storms swept through Houston and its surrounding areas on Thursday.

City officials disclosed that one of the fatalities occurred on North Main Street and 610. ABC13’s Shannon Ryan was on the scene, where a tree had fallen onto a home.

According to the city, two of the deaths resulted from fallen trees, while another was caused by a crane toppling over.

During a late-night news briefing, Houston Mayor John Whitmire emphasized that power and traffic lights were out, advising against driving at night. Fire Chief Samuel Pena highlighted that gas leaks and downed trees and power lines were the primary concerns.

Whitmire also cautioned against venturing into downtown, where he described the damage as “considerable.”

Whitmire urged Houstonians to stay home on Friday if possible.

Outside the city limits, in Cypress, at least one fatality was reported in a mobile home fire in the 15700 block of Cypress Meadows Drive. However, it remains unclear if the passing storms contributed to the blaze.