Severe weather has unleashed chaos across the Southeast, with a suspected tornado tearing through Port Arthur, Texas, and causing significant damage to structures and homes. Progressive Missionary Baptist Church on 13th Street suffered heavy damages from the storm, which also affected residential areas on Thomas Boulevard and 11th Street, leaving a trail of destruction but, fortunately, no reported injuries at present, as reported by FOX San Antonio.
The aggressive weather patterns have led to the closures of various schools in Port Arthur due to power outages, with the expectation to resume Thursday. The storm didn't only bring winds; torrential rain caused road floods throughout Southeast Texas, which subsequently resulted in calls for evacuations and advisories for residents to shelter in place. According to CNN, towns like Kirbyville have been inundated, forcing the closure of Highway 96, with more roads impacted in areas such as Jasper and Tyler counties. Jasper County issued a disaster declaration as emergency services responded to multiple rescues from impacted homes and vehicles.
The high water levels are not to be underestimated; over a foot of rain submerged regions, causing extensive flooding. The National Weather Service reported that in Kirbyville the Pin Oak Creek rose an alarming 10 feet in a span of six hours overnight. This significant rainfall has prompted an expansion of flash flood emergencies to other towns, with potentially more water to come. In response to the severe weather and storm threats, over 30 million people are now under alert, while flood alerts apply to more than 13 million people from Texas to Georgia.
In addition to the damage, the storms have placed a colossal strain on utilities, with over 200,000 homes and businesses in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi left without power this morning. This distressing situation is compounded as fierce winds and the possibility of more tornadoes loom imminent across the Gulf Coast. A "Level 4 of 5 severe weather threat stretches from eastern Louisiana to western Alabama and includes Baton Rouge, Louisiana," with the likes of Baton Rouge within its grasp, as reported by CNN. The ongoing storms, expected to traverse from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, make travel precarious. Authorities are urging vigilance and advising against driving through floodwaters.
In the face of this environmental onslaught, states are battening down the hatches and bracing for further impacts. Educational institutions across affected areas have shuttered, while Louisiana and Mississippi dispense sandbags and provide guidance for preparing against floods. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to furnish communities with essential resources, and to ensure that Texans heed the counsel of emergency officials in the course of these severe weather disturbances.
