New storm damage hits Oklahoma and Kansas, most power restored in Houston

Fast-moving storms with strong winds, large hail, and apparent tornadoes wreaked havoc in Oklahoma and Kansas, causing damage to homes and blocking roads with fallen trees and power lines. Meanwhile, Houston was making progress in recovering from the deadly storms that hit the area last week.

State emergency officials reported nearly 20 homes damaged in Custer County, Oklahoma, with two people injured in Butler. Damage to a nursing home was also reported in Hydro. Wind gusts exceeding 60 mph were reported in many areas as the storms moved eastward. In central Kansas, a wind gust of 100 mph was recorded at the airport in Salina.

Residents like Jacob Schwein in Russell, Kansas, witnessed funnel clouds and suffered damage to their property. Overturned semitrailers were reported in Newton and Sedgwick counties, prompting officials to advise residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary.

The National Weather Service received 13 tornado reports from Oklahoma, Kansas, and Colorado on Sunday. Schools in several communities were closed on Monday as they cleaned up from the storms, with more severe weather forecasted for later in the day.

In Houston, where seven people lost their lives due to last week’s storms, power was restored to a majority of affected residents on Sunday. Despite the progress, over 209,000 homes and businesses in Texas remained without electricity, mostly in the Houston area. A distribution site at a Boys & Girls Club provided food, water, and ice for those without power.

Houston-area residents were warned to expect hot and humid weather in the coming days, with temperatures reaching around 90 degrees and heat indexes approaching 102 degrees by midweek. The city and county provided temporary cooling centers for those in need.