Power outages could last weeks in parts of Houston after storms cause extensive damage, county official says – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

Power outages could last for weeks in parts of Houston after deadly thunderstorms caused significant damage Thursday evening.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said it could take weeks to restore power to areas where large transmission towers were toppled by the storm.

Hidalgo said there were at least 10 large towers that were collapsed by the storm.

“The next few days are going to be tough. The next few weeks are going to be tough for some people in our community. They’re going to be uncomfortable. But we got through this. Our first responders got through this. It was an unlikely scenario , but here we are and we are simply resilient.

As of Friday morning, power was still out for about 800,000 customers, after being cut by up to 900,000 customers overnight.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire on Friday urged people to stay home and avoid the roads. He said 2,500 traffic lights were out and there were hazards and debris on the roads that made driving dangerous.

Whitmire said the support from surrounding communities and across the state has been remarkable, and he thanked Texans for working together in their recovery.

“Frankly, I am proud to be mayor of Houston today. We are once again demonstrating the fine qualities and unity we have in these difficult times,” Whitmire said. “We’re doing everything we can. Be patient. Use common sense. Be kind to your neighbors, your family, your pets.”