Four people dead after severe storms in Houston, more than 900,000 without power

Houston Mayor John Whitmire confirmed Thursday evening that four people were killed following severe storms that ravaged Houston Thursday afternoon.

“Thank your neighbor…we will assess the damage and come together to begin recovery the way we know how,” Whitmire said.

He says the most damage was reported in the Cypress area, Heights and the city’s east side near Channelview and Galena Park.

Large debris is also scattered across the city, with windows from downtown skyscrapers reportedly torn out. A possible tornado was also reported in Cypress, with video of the tornado circulating on social media. However, this has not yet been confirmed by the National Weather Service. The storms also downed power lines on the Northwest Highway this afternoon, causing traffic delays amid the chaos.

More than 900,000 people are without power in Houston tonight, and no timetable has been set for when power will be restored. In response, Acting Police Chief Larry Satterwhite said his units were patrolling dark areas of the city to deter looters.

Whitmire also encourages everyone to stay off the roads until Friday morning.