Friday, May 17, 2024

TORNADO AND STORM DAMAGE HOUSTON 2024

So we knew storms were possible and/or coming yesterday afternoon but we (and millions of others) were not prepared for what would happen...

After our phones kept getting alerts and warnings, it started to get more intense.  We tried to have dinner but kept an eye on the sky.  Then the TV networks all switched to local coverage and there was a tornado on the ground about 3 miles from the farm and was moving toward the greater Houston area.

Within the storm, they were recording straight line winds approaching and then exceeding 100mph. 

Oh, but then it only got worse.

They issued a very rare 'destructive thunderstorm warning' for all of Houston.   According to the National Weather Service, this warning is used when there is "hail of 2.75 inches or larger and winds of 80mph or higher".

Then the tornado warning came for over 2 million people...popping up on phones, city phone alerts, text messages, and yes, even the Weather Channel switched to full round the clock coverage. 

2nd Man and I rushed to get the furniture that's out on the balcony laid down flat and we looked up and it was already getting scary.

The sky was green (and a few other weird colors) and the wind was rapidly picking up speed.  It was also getting much darker...

So dark the streetlights started coming on...but even then, darker and darker.

I tried to open the balcony door again and I thought it was locked; it was not, the wind and pressure was so intense, the glass started vibrating.  2nd Man shouted to close the shades (we have these big rolling shades) so that if the windows broke that might shield some of the stuff from coming in.

We took Hobart and went to the hallway to wait it out.


Here is the camera view from a local station as the tornado warned storm came into downtown.  This is at 6:30 in the afternoon, normally bright and sunny.  

I'll be honest, it was a bit harrowing because we thought the windows might come out.  Our building was built to have the latest (at the time ten years ago) hurricane/impact resistant windows but a worry in downtown Houston is when debris from a couple of windows on another building starts to fly around and impacts more windows and tree branches break more windows and that begets more debris and, well it's a vicious circle.

Here is just a small part of the end result:


This building is about 3 blocks away from us.


And this one is about 2 blocks away.

There are many other buildings with damage and the streets into and out of downtown are currently closed because there is just too much debris.  The mayor told people to stay home today so they can clean up the streets.  In some places, the broken glass is 2 inches deep.  Thank goodness this storm had enough warning and happened after 6pm when most office buildings were empty.

We have no power at my work office building and the roads have so much debris, our company is covering the phones and we were told to stay home.  Even though he works from home, 2nd Man was told to take off today as internet service is sketchy at best.

There are trees down all over town, roads blocked, power was out to 950,000 people, street lights are not working, there are signs down, power lines across roads and of course thousands of homes and businesses have roof damage.  Right before we wearily went to bed last night, we heard a few large 'booms' and it turns out there was a subterranean sewer fire causing explosions about 4 blocks away. 

All school districts are closed today due to extensive damage to schools and campuses around the city. 

They are saying this will be a billion dollar+ storm.  

Sadly, at least four people have also been killed.

"J" from 2nd Family said it was the scariest moment she's had out there, and she's been through several hurricanes and countless really bad thunderstorms.  She said she really thought a tornado was forming just beside the property as the wind was insane.  A weather station near the farm (less than a mile) reported a gust of 109mph!   She lost quite a few shingles and today, in the light of day, she will check our house and property.  

As one weather expert said, it's like the city of Houston experienced a direct hit by a Category 1 or Category 2 hurricane that lasted full on for an hour.  Another said that a storm like this has not impacted such a large metropolitan area and will be remembered for years to come in the Houston area.

Stay tuned for tomorrow when we will venture to the farm to see the damage up close.


43 comments:

  1. Your talking about the glass vibrating reminded me of Hurricane Charlie 20 years ago this August. Rain was coming under our sliding glass doors. I was mopping it up and something brushed my shoulder. Looked up, thinking it was the spouse. It was the glass flexing. To heck with the floor, I left! I'd love not to have sliding glass doors any more; they're basically big holes in the wall. Something to think about when you build your new home.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for that, a great thing to think about. I remember when Charlie was in the news that was crazy. I'm glad you all were safe. It's something you don't forget for sure.

      Delete
  2. I just was reading about the storm for the first time so went to see if you had power to post. So glad to read you building didn't sustain damage. Hope the farm is ok. What a close call.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Our building is on the same circuit as a hospital nearby so we're lucky that we rarely lose power (did once but then we have generators in our building too for a few hours anyway). Limited internet. 2nd Family said we have the fence around the garden down and a lot of shingles. We'll find out tomorrow.

      Delete
  3. I'm glad your Houston apartment is OK, and hope you have minimal damage on the farm. Good call on getting the patio furniture low as possible and closing the blinds.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep, we got it laid down flat (they fold) and flipped a small table upside down. It was crazy. Still can't get out of downtown, glass is still falling from buildings.

      Delete
  4. Wow! What floor do you live on? That would be too doggone scary for me! Glad you are OK and hope the same for the farm!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We are 30 floors up, and of course wind is higher at the upper elevations. Scary times indeed.

      Delete
  5. That was the scariest storm I’ve ever been in. We have so many downed trees. 3 of them fell on hubs shop’s roof and bent it so bad he can’t get the only access door open until the trees are cut. No coop power since 6:30 last night but we do have whole house generac but the AC is a little much for it to handle. Glad your downtown home is ok, hope the farm and outbuildings are too! Deb

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Deb, we were wondering about you guys. So glad it was just the shop and not the house. We do have some damage and trees down at the farm but nothing major from what 2nd Family has told us. We'll see.

      Delete
    2. So our power came back on at 3:30 this afternoon (5/18). 2 days. Could have easily been a lot longer. SBCE is great! Deb

      Delete
  6. Last night, I commented, hoping you were okay. That was scary from your description. The pictures are so horrid. In your new home I would not forgo large glass doors. Maybe shutters or sliding outer doors. Natural light is too important. Of course, broke glass doors are not so healthy if they break. I have my fingers crossed for your country home.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, we have 2nd family reports that we have some trees down and shingles off. We're hoping we can get out of downtown tomorrow and get out there to check on things. We will have windows with lots of light but are thinking of shutters.

      Delete
  7. Do the elevators in your apartment building work? I watched the Weather Channel coverage and it's astonishing how much damage was done with straight line winds. Some electricity transmission towers were folded over to the ground. No power with high temperature and high humidity make for some miserable times. On TV one reporter said that some people reported they had no water, either. Here's hoping the farm house is safe. I'm glad you're both safe at home.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, we have power and if we did lose it, they have generators for the elevators. The water shortage is limited to a few areas but so sad to see. Yes, we remember all too well of the post Ike no power for two weeks in the summer. It was miserable. Thanks for thinking of us

      Delete
  8. Blessing that you both are ok along with 2nd family as well. Things can be replaced but loss of life is heartbreaking.
    You're braver than I am staying in your apartment being that high up the way you did and not go down to the main, lower floor.
    Storms like that are really very scary and with that, I only wish we had a storm shelter to go down into.
    I do hope and pray that the farm place hadn't received much damage but with winds that strong, you can expect to have some damage.
    Take care and stay safe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! We thought about going down but then thought if the elevators went out, we'd rather be stuck in our apartment than away from it (food, clothes, water, cat food, etc, ha). There is some damage, we shall see tomorrow if we can get out of downtown. We're thinking of a shelter at the farm, our water table is high and that's the problem need to find one that's good for that and doesn't leak and won't pop out of the ground in a monsoon rain, ha.

      Delete
    2. Storm Shelter; check on having a Safe Room built inside your new home that blends right into the existing home.
      https://www.safesheds.com/family-shelters.html?msclkid=ad76fab9abf7104f04d49cf1c660becd&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Spring2023LeadConversion&utm_term=building%20a%20storm%20shelter&utm_content=Ad%20group%201

      https://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/safe_rooms/

      Delete
  9. I'm glad you are O.K and I hope the farm hasn't sustained too muh damage. We went through some dramatic storms in Galveston forty years ago but nothing as violent as the one yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. We were here for Harvey, Ike, Alison and Alicia (albeit young kids then ha) and this was the most intense either of us have ever seen.

      Delete
  10. I am so glad that you all are safe. I lived in SW Florida when Charlie hit and it was like you described. I hope everything at the farm is ok. Since you are getting ready to rebuild at the farm I would keep this is mind while planning. I think built in true shutters would make me feel much safer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much. I remember about Charlie on the news and it was scary for sure, I can't imagine being in that. Yes, we are definitely thinking about shutters that are functional.

      Delete
  11. Replies
    1. Right? It's crazy, it's like we had a short term Cat 2 hurricane. Same damage. Just happened in 10 minutes and was over.

      Delete
  12. I'm glad you, 2nd Man, and Hobart are OK. When I first heard about it on the news I was praying for you. Galestorm

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are so sweet. Thank you much. We are ok and that's what is most important.

      Delete
  13. i was worrying abut you guys when i saw the news today. i am so glad all of you are safe and that hobart didn't go to oz! joyce

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL that made us laugh. Thank you we are all good!!!

      Delete
  14. This doesn't sound or look good in fact it looks down right terrifying and I felt scared reading the post and I am in a different country. I am pleased you are all ok

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww, thanks for that, the experience was pretty intense for about 30 minutes but we are on the other side and ok.

      Delete
  15. When the Houston TV channels broke into regular programming with continuous weather coverage, I knew it was bad. Today I was watching the coverage of all the extensive damage. I know it had to have been very scary during all that. I live about an hour SW of Houston and we got only the bottom tail of the storm, so we just had some lower mph gusts of wind and some rain. I’m so glad y’all are alright. Hoping your Farm did not receive damage.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you were safe. It was just amazing the amount of damage from just 10 minutes of coming through each part of town. Hoping we can get to the farm tomorrow if the roads are clear. Stay tuned.

      Delete
  16. So glad to read you are safe, I've just watched the damage on the evening news and it was horrific, and the loss of life so very sad.
    Our little town has already been hit with four tornadoes this spring, the weather is surely changing.
    Hugs,
    Jo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The weather is definitely changing. The NWS just announced that we were hit by two tornadoes (the ones further outside of the Houston metro area) but that the thing that hit Houston with such destruction was a "derecho" and is the first known one to strike here on record. Sigh. Four tornadoes? Wow! Stay safe!!!

      Delete
  17. So glad you are all ok, we lived up in the Northwest (Port Hedland) for over 30 years with the threat of cyclones. Scary times. We lost most of our trees and fences in cyclone GEORGE, we were lucky as some people lost their roof tops. Having no power in hot humid weather for days was a challenge. Hope every thing is ok out at the farm. 🦘🦘

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for the kind words. We shall see tomorrow. It's always so sad to see other people with so much damage when we escape with little to none. Stay tuned to see how things are if we can get out there tomorrow.

      Delete
  18. What a terrifying experience! I'm so glad you and second man and Hobart are safe and didn't experience damage to your apartment. I'll be holding a good thought that everything is ok at the farm, as well. Stay safe!

    ReplyDelete
  19. When I saw the news last night I was so worried about your little family. So glad to see that you're ok and even able to post.
    Mary

    ReplyDelete
  20. I am so very very thankful that you and sweet Second Man and dear old Hobart are okay!! Stay safe as you head outside -- you never know what the severe storm winds and rains might have weakened - like tree limbs etc. And of course shards of glass!! When we have severe storm warnings - we make sure that all of the outside items (furniture, decor etc.) are well secured!! "Stack it, Stash it or Trash it" is a motto for securing yard items!! cheers! and be very safe!! Jan at Rosemary Cottage

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm so glad you both (plus sweet Hobart) are all right. That's absolutely terrifying. Thank you for the update. Take good care.

    ReplyDelete

Please leave us a comment! I have some comment moderation on and of course will approve your comment relatively quickly. We love feedback and hearing what others have to share with us all. Please know that I can't always reply to it right away, but ALL comments are read. I will reply just as soon as I can so be sure to come back and see my reply.

Now, let us hear from you!