HOUSTON – One year ago, May 16, 2024, is a day Houstonians will never forget.
A devastating windstorm, called a derecho, slammed into Houston and Harris County from the northwest.
The storm brought horrific destruction to the area, crippling infrastructure and leading to the deaths of multiple people.
Many people lost power for weeks, and lives were changed in an instant as the windstorm, which in some cases brought winds in excess of 100 mph, struck the city.
Those of us at KPRC 2 were also not left unscathed by the storm. Many of us suffered from the extensive and prolonged power outages. We spoke to those who survived and witnessed both the physical devastation and the emotional toll it brought on Houstonians.
As the city marks one year since the storm, we’ve compiled some of the most compelling videos and stories from the event.
Intercepting a tornado
Before the derecho entered the City of Houston, it entered Harris County from the northwest. One of the first places in the county to experience the wrath of the storm was up in Cypress.
KPRC 2 Reporter Gage Goulding along with Photographer Adrian Crooks were in the area in the KPRC 2 Storm Tracker, keeping you updated on the latest weather and traffic conditions.
While driving on U.S. 290, Goulding and Crooks came dangerously close to what would later be determined to be an EF-1 tornado. At the time, the tornado was completely shrouded in rain, making the main vortex impossible to see with the eye.
But former KPRC 2 Chief Meteorologist Frank Billingsley could see what was unfolding on radar and warned the two to be careful because they may be close to the tornado.
When the winds began to calm, tree branches could be seen in the roadway just ahead of where Goulding and Crooks had been.
The real time information from both the radar and the people experiencing it firsthand helped warn others who were in the path of the tornado.
Downtown Houston damage
One of the places that was hit hard by the derecho was Downtown Houston itself.
KPRC 2 reporter Bryce Newberry witnessed just how bad the damage was firsthand, just hours after the storm blew through.
In a live shot on KPRC 2 News at 10 that night, Newberry walked over shards of broken glass from skyscraper windows blown out and shattered by the winds exceeding 100 mph.
The Houston Downtown Management District would later confirm over 2,500 windows on skyscrapers were damaged by the storm.
The Hyatt Regency hotel in downtown also had windows on the roof blown out, sending rain and debris pouring into the lobby.
8 killed by the storm
The final death toll in Harris County from the derecho is believed to have been eight people, either directly or indirectly.
The Houston Fire Department confirmed five deaths related to the derecho, one of which was carbon monoxide-related, and then three other deaths, confirmed by Harris County.
A Houston mother of four died when she went outside to move her car so it wouldn’t get hit by a tree. As she was doing that, a tree came down on top of her, crushing the car and ultimately killing her.
Also in Houston, a 72-year-old cement worker was killed when a crane collapsed and slammed down on the cab of his truck.
A 57-year-old man in northwest Houston died trying to move an electrical pole.
In east Houston, a 60-year-old man who lost power in the storm went out to his truck to plug in his oxygen tank. The next morning, he was found dead.
In the Spring Branch area, another person died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
In Cypress, lightning hit a trailer that went up in flames, killing an 85-year-old woman.
Power outage nightmare
While we may never know exactly how many people were without power following the derecho, we know in Houston itself, there were at least 900,000 without power over 1 million across the area.
10 transmission towers across the area were damaged, seven of which were in Harris County.
KPRC 2’s Gage Goulding witnessed to damage to power infrastructure firsthand as he came upon powerline towers twisted and bent over off U.S. 290
Some people waited weeks for power to be restored. A small army of workers from CenterPoint Energy as well as many out-of-state workers providing mutual aid worked in the hot and humid conditions after the storm to try and restore power.
Hope amidst devastation
Despite all the destruction, Houstonians sprang into action to help support those in need.
City and county government as well as non-profits across the area stepped in to help provide food and shelter to those struggling.
Houston’s own Jim‘Mattress Mack’ McIngvale also stepped up, as he often does, by giving away hundreds of mattresses to affected residents.
The damage can probably still be seen today and not long after the derecho, Hurricane Beryl came through and threw another punch at Houston.
Despite the one-two punch, the people of Southeast Texas continued to give back.
Several months after the storm, a New Caney family who became homeless after their RV was rendered unlivable by the derecho, was struggling as FEMA funds were delayed.
After KPRC 2 reporter Deven Clarke covered the family’s plight, an anonymous donor came forward and gave the family $1,000 to help push them forward.
“Somebody cared, yesterday I was like I don’t know what we’re going to do. This is a blessing,” Becky Lewis said.