Severe weather threat moves east after tornado in Texas
PASADENA, Texas (AP) – A winter storm that brought severe weather to the Gulf Coast and winter precipitation to the north moved east Wednesday, causing widespread damage in the Houston area and injuring three people in Louisiana.
Forecasters declared a rare tornado emergency for the Houston area on Tuesday as the storm system moved through the heavily populated area. There was significant damage in cities east of Houston, but no injuries were reported.
Three people suffered “minor to moderate injuries” when their mobile homes were damaged or destroyed after a tornado touched down in the Morel Lane area north of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff’s Office said.
Wednesday’s storm is expected to bring damaging winds to parts of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, forecasters said. Winter weather warnings extended from Missouri south to Maine, with 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 centimeters) of snow expected in New England areas, the National Weather Service said.
In Baytown, power lines were down and homes and businesses were damaged, but there were no reports of serious injuries, Baytown spokesman Jason Calder said.
Officials in nearby Deer Park said the tornado caused extensive damage to a nursing home. Residents had to be evacuated, but no one was injured.
“It amazes me that no one was hurt,” Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton Jr. said as emergency crews worked to restore power. “We deal with property, restore and rebuild.”
Many suburbs in this region have many petrochemical facilities.
Shell Chemicals’ Deer Park location was flaring or flaring natural gas after losing steam due to bad weather, Shell spokesman Curtis Smith said.
“We are taking steps to minimize any noise, light or smoke associated with this activity, however these are expected to continue until the units are back in operation,” Smith said via email. “There is no danger to the community, and there are no signs of a tornado near the Chemical Plant.”
The storm system also brought snow and ice to the central US
Schools and businesses were closed in parts of Oklahoma on Wednesday, where 1 to 6 inches (3 to 15 centimeters) of snow fell in central and eastern parts of the state. As of Wednesday morning, more than 160,000 homes and businesses were without power in northern Arkansas and southern Missouri after heavy snow fell in the Ozarks the day before.
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Murphy reported from Oklahoma City. Associated Press writer Jill Bled in Little Rock, Arkansas, contributed to this report.