People survey a partially collapsed section of Conejo Malo in downtown Houston on May 17, 2024. Antranik Tavitian/Houston Landing

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Photos: Storms toppled transmission towers, downed trees and blew out windows across Houston area

The severe weather caused widespread damage, killed at least four people and left hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses without power.

By Marie D. De Jesús and Antranik Tavitian, Houston LandingMay 17, 2024, 2:45 p.m. Central

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Photos: Storms toppled transmission towers, downed trees and blew out windows across Houston area

by Dave Harmon, The Texas Tribune
May 17, 2024

<h1>Photos: Storms toppled transmission towers, downed trees and blew out windows across Houston area</h1>
<p class="byline">by Dave Harmon, The Texas Tribune <br />May 17, 2024</p>
<p><em><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/newsletters/the-brief/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=trib-ads-owned&amp;utm_campaign=trib-marketing&amp;utm_term=inline-CTA-brief">Sign up for The Brief</a>, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.</em></p>
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<p>Severe storms <a href="https://houstonlanding.org/severe-storm-hits-houston-area-knocking-out-power-for-nearly-900000-centerpoint-customers/">tore through the Houston area</a> Thursday evening, causing widespread damage, killing at least four people and leaving hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses without power.</p>
<p>Gale force winds up to 100 mph <a href="https://houstonlanding.org/some-residents-could-be-without-power-for-weeks-after-deadly-storm-strikes-houston-area/">knocked over power lines</a>, blew out windows and toppled trees throughout the region. Houston Office of Emergency Management spokesperson Brent Taylor said officials will begin the recovery process once debris and damage are cleared. In the meantime, Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo urged residents to avoid all unnecessary travel.</p>
<p>The storm ravaged Harris County — from transmission towers crushed in suburban Cypress to stricken oak trees blockading traffic to high-rise windows shattered throughout downtown Houston.</p>
<p>Here’s a look at some of the damage wrought, reported by <a href="https://houstonlanding.org/">Houston Landing</a>:</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignwide"><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/051720Houston20Storm20Damage20AT20TT20004-1.jpg"><img src="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/051720Houston20Storm20Damage20AT20TT20004-1.jpg" alt="The Muncy family looks at damaged buildings in downtown after a storm broke windows in many of the skyscrapers on Louisiana Street on May 16, 2024 in Houston." class="wp-image-176417" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Muncy family looks at damaged buildings in downtown after a storm broke windows in many of the skyscrapers on Louisiana Street on  May 16, 2024 in Houston.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignwide"><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/051720Houston20Storm20Damage20AT20TT20002-1.jpg"><img src="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/051720Houston20Storm20Damage20AT20TT20002-1.jpg" alt="A car roof is flattened after bricks from a partially collapsed wall of Conejo Malo fell on it in downtown Houston on May 16, 2024." class="wp-image-176418" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A car roof is flattened after bricks from a partially collapsed wall of Conejo Malo fell on it in downtown Houston on May 16, 2024.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignwide"><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/051720Houston20Storm20Damage20AT20TT20005-1.jpg"><img src="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/051720Houston20Storm20Damage20AT20TT20005-1.jpg" alt="The damaged Well Fargo Plaza building in downtown Houston on May 17, 2024." class="wp-image-176420" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The damaged Well Fargo Plaza building in downtown Houston on May 17, 2024.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignwide"><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/051720Houston20Storm20Damage20AT20TT20007-1.jpg"><img src="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/051720Houston20Storm20Damage20AT20TT20007-1.jpg" alt="A worker clears damaged windows in the CenterPoint Energy Plaza building in downtown Houston on May 17, 2024." class="wp-image-176421" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A worker clears damaged windows in the CenterPoint Energy Plaza building in downtown Houston on May 17, 2024.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignwide"><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/051720Houston20Storm20Damage20AT20TT20003-1.jpg"><img src="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/051720Houston20Storm20Damage20AT20TT20003-1.jpg" alt="Debris after the storm on Louisiana Street in downtown Houston on May 17, 2024." class="wp-image-176422" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Debris after the storm on Louisiana Street in downtown Houston on May 17, 2024.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignwide"><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/051720Houston20Storm20Damage20AT20TT20006-1.jpg"><img src="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/051720Houston20Storm20Damage20AT20TT20006-1.jpg" alt="From left, Luke, Ryan, Jaqueline and Tanner Muncy look at the damage and debris on Louisiana Street the morning after a storm in downtown Houston on May 16, 2024." class="wp-image-176424" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">From left, Luke, Ryan, Jaqueline and Tanner Muncy look at the damage and debris on Louisiana Street the morning after a storm in downtown Houston on May 16, 2024.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignwide"><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240517_STORM_MDJ_980-2-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240517_STORM_MDJ_980-2-scaled.jpg" alt="Storms damaged several transmission power lines Thursday evening near Highway 99 on May 16, 2024 in Cypress." class="wp-image-191278" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Storms damaged several transmission power lines Thursday evening near Highway 99 on May 16, 2024 in Cypress.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignwide"><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240516_STORM_MDJ_06-1-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240516_STORM_MDJ_06-1-scaled.jpg" alt="A man stands by a fallen branch blocking TC Jester Boulevard after a storm on May 16, 2024 in Houston." class="wp-image-176427" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A man stands by a fallen branch blocking TC Jester Boulevard after a storm on May 16, 2024 in Houston.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignwide"><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240517_STORM_MDJ_542-1-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240517_STORM_MDJ_542-1-scaled.jpg" alt="Storms damaged several transmission power lines Thursday evening near Highway 99 on May 16, 2024, in Cypress." class="wp-image-176428" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Storms damaged several transmission power lines Thursday evening near Highway 99 on May 16, 2024, in Cypress.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignwide"><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240516_STORM_MDJ_13-1-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240516_STORM_MDJ_13-1-scaled.jpg" alt="Severe thunderstorms brought in wind gusts up to 80 mph, damaging homes in Cypress on May 16, 2024." class="wp-image-176429" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Severe thunderstorms brought in wind gusts up to 80 mph, damaging homes in Cypress on May 16, 2024.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignwide"><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240517_STORM_MDJ_1147-1-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240517_STORM_MDJ_1147-1-scaled.jpg" alt="Street signs are blown down on the corner of Bridge Creek Terrace Drive and Westgreen Boulevard on May 17, 2024 in Cypress." class="wp-image-176432" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Street signs are blown down on the corner of Bridge Creek Terrace Drive and Westgreen Boulevard on May 17, 2024 in Cypress.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignwide"><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240516_STORM_MDJ_02-1-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240516_STORM_MDJ_02-1-scaled.jpg" alt="Anastasia Gill, 38, takes a call in the darkness of her backyard after losing electricity on May 16, 2024 in Houston. The roof of her house sustained damages after a tree fell on it during the storm on Thursday." class="wp-image-176434" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Anastasia Gill, 38, takes a call in the darkness of her backyard after losing electricity on May 16, 2024 in Houston. The roof of her house sustained damages after a tree fell on it during the storm on Thursday.</figcaption></figure>
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Photos: Storms toppled transmission towers, downed trees and blew out windows across Houston area

Dave Harmon, The Texas Tribune
May 17, 2024

Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.

Severe storms tore through the Houston area Thursday evening, causing widespread damage, killing at least four people and leaving hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses without power.

Gale force winds up to 100 mph knocked over power lines, blew out windows and toppled trees throughout the region. Houston Office of Emergency Management spokesperson Brent Taylor said officials will begin the recovery process once debris and damage are cleared. In the meantime, Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo urged residents to avoid all unnecessary travel.

The storm ravaged Harris County — from transmission towers crushed in suburban Cypress to stricken oak trees blockading traffic to high-rise windows shattered throughout downtown Houston.

Here’s a look at some of the damage wrought, reported by Houston Landing:

We’ve got big things in store for you at The Texas Tribune Festival, happening Sept. 5–7 in downtown Austin. Join us for three days of big, bold conversations about politics, public policy and the day’s news.

This article first appeared on The Texas Tribune.

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Tagged: Houston

Dave HarmonEnvironment, Energy, And Immigration Editor

dharmon@texastribune.org

Dave Harmon joined the Tribune in 2017 after spending 18 years at the Austin American-Statesman as a reporter, assistant metro editor and member of the investigative team. A Kalamazoo, Michigan, native,... More by Dave Harmon

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Photos: Storms toppled transmission towers, downed trees and blew out windows across Houston area

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Dave HarmonEnvironment, Energy, And Immigration Editor

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