Month: January 2023

Homeowners in hard-hit Pasadena are already at work on repairs and they said they have no intention of leaving. PASADENA, Texas — One family has no plans to fly the coop after last Tuesday’s tornado caused significant damage to their home. “This is the first day that they’re going to rip out my house,” homeowner Maria Palma said. Palma said she plans to rebuild the place she and her husband have called home for more…

Homeowners in hard-hit Pasadena are already at work on repairs and they said they have no intention of leaving. PASADENA, Texas — One family has no plans to fly the coop after last Tuesday’s tornado caused significant damage to their home. “This is the first day that they’re going to rip out my house,” homeowner Maria Palma said. Palma said she plans to rebuild the place she and her husband have called home for more…

As cleanup efforts continue across Pasadena and Deer Park, more stories of survival are emerging. It’s been one week since a devastating EF-3 tornado hit the region. DEER PARK, Texas — Tuesday marks one week since a devastating EF-3 tornado tore through Pasadena and Deer Park. The recovery efforts are only beginning for many and it will be a long road for some families that lost just about everything. At Skateworld in Deer Park, work…

Patricia Ortiz / Houston Public Media Baker Ripley Community Center is taking donations for those affected by the tornado in Pasadena and Deer Park. Residents near Pasadena and Deer Park can find guidance and assistance after the EF-3 tornado at the Baker Ripley community center in Pasadena. The tornado was estimated to be more than a half-mile wide and had maximum wind speeds of 140 mph. The community center is offering food fairs, utility assistance,…

On Saturday, cleanup efforts were still underway in Pasadena and Deer park, two of the hardest-hit areas. PASADENA, Texas — It will be a long road to recovery for those hit by Tuesday’s tornado. On Saturday, cleanup efforts were still underway in Pasadena and Deer park, two of the hardest-hit areas. Pasadena resident Brice Cruz’s elderly parents were among those counting their blessings. “Both of them were inside when the storm hit and they rode…

“I guess you’re either going to panic or you’re not,” she said. “No matter what happened, I knew that we would be OK, regardless of what did happen.” PASADENA, Texas — New video taken by a dash camera during Tuesday’s tornado shows the harrowing moments a grandmother, her daughter and her grandson spent trapped in their vehicle as the twister passed. The three were inside Irma Cantu’s Land Cruiser SUV outside of Pasadena High School…

Ashley Brown / Houston Public Media Pasadena and Deer Park officials say they will open the Pasadena Convention Center for residents to get donations like clothes. Pasadena and Deer Park officials joined together to open a Disaster Assistance and Recovery Center on Friday to help families impacted by Tuesday’s devastating tornado. Residents can go to the Pasadena Convention Center located at 7902 Fairmont Parkway to get information on recovery assistance as they take the first…

A joint Pasadena and Deer Park recovery center is working to help get residents back on their feet. PASADENA, Texas — Tornadoes caused significant damage to buildings and homes in Deer Park and Pasadena on Tuesday. As people looked to rebuild, The City of Pasadena and Emergency Management Office announced a joint disaster recovery center for Pasadena and Deer Park residents to help navigate people through resources available to them. The disaster recovery center will…

FILE: Mario Mendoza carries items out of a friend’s storm-damaged home Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Pasadena, Texas. A powerful storm system took aim at Gulf Coast Tuesday, spawning tornados that caused damage east of Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Homeowners affected by the EF3 tornado which passed through Pasadena and Deer Park can file a wind-claim on their homeowners insurance. Nishi Kothari is an attorney at Brasher Law Firm who focuses on bad faith…

It’s been three days since Beamer Place Apartments residents have had access to their homes. But before they can get in, they have to sign a five-page release. HOUSTON — Frustrated and overwhelmed are just some of the emotions Beamer Place Apartments residents are experiencing after their homes were completely destroyed Tuesday in a tornado. Three days later, residents are finally able to get back to their homes and grab whatever is salvageable but before they…

Houston Matters begins at 9 a.m. CT on 88.7FM or listen online. Join the discussion at 713-440-8870, talk@houstonmatters.org or @HoustonMatters. On Friday’s show: As cleanup continues after Tuesday’s tornadoes, should we expect more of them in the Houston area in the future? We talk it over with Matt Lanza of Space City Weather. And we get an update on the FDA’s likely plans for future COVID vaccines. And we learn about Dana Brown, the new…

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared a state of emergency in Harris County including much of the southeast Houston area Thursday afternoon, two days after severe storms and a destructive tornado rocked the region.     “The disaster declaration… will further support the State of Texas’ recovery efforts in response to extensive damage sustained due to tornadic activity in Pasadena, Deer Park, and neighboring Southeast Texas communities,” according to a Thursday afternoon release announcing the declaration….

Here are some ways the community is coming together to help out neighbors in a time of need. After tornadoes devastated parts of the Houston area on Tuesday, residents were left to pick up the pieces. Here are some ways the community is coming together to help out neighbors in a time of need. The cities of Pasadena and Deer Park are hosting a joint Disaster Assistance Recovery Center at the Pasadena Convention Center from…

Lucio Vasquez / Houston Public Media A section of Center Street in Deer Park was closed off by police on Jan. 25 due to downed powerlines and debris from a nearby building. The city of Deer Park is still recovering after a destructive tornado tore through the area earlier this week. During a press conference on Thursday, Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton said crews were still assessing the full extent of damage left behind by…

The NWS has confirmed that an EF3 touched down in the Houston area on Tuesday. DEER PARK, Texas — Residents in Deer Park were left picking up the pieces after an EF3 tornado tore through their community on Tuesday. “You just got to put one foot in front of the other and do a little at a time because it’s a big chore,” said Bobby Slocum, the owner of Second Chance Saloon. “But I feel…

The tornado had a maximum wind speed of 140 mph and an estimated path length of 18 miles. HOUSTON — The storms are gone but there’s a path of destruction that will take weeks to clean up after homes and businesses were shredded by tornados that swept across the Houston area Tuesday. The National Weather Service in Houston confirmed Wednesday that an EF3 tornado ripped through Pasadena and Deer Park with an estimated maximum path…

HOUSTON — The Beamer Place Apartments is just one of several buildings that were destroyed in an EF3 tornado that touched down in southeast Houston Tuesday. Houston city officials went to survey the area Wednesday where now hundreds of families are left without a home because they were told it was not safe for them.  “I had firefighters trying to help me put together my crate, find cats,” said one resident. “I had two other cats hiding behind…

“We will rebuild. This is Deer Park, we love it,” one resident said. DEER PARK, Texas — The day after an EF3 tornado ripped through Deer Park, many families started to pick up the pieces. “Why my house, why us?” asked resident Amy Ervin. Ervin has lived on East X Street for 11 years and is one of several residents who lost everything in Tuesday’s storm. She was working at a nearby school when it…

“We will rebuild. This is Deer Park, we love it,” one resident said. DEER PARK, Texas — The day after an EF3 tornado ripped through Deer Park, many families started to pick up the pieces. “Why my house, why us?” asked resident Amy Ervin. Ervin has lived on East X Street for 11 years and is one of several residents who lost everything in Tuesday’s storm. She was working at a nearby school when it…

If your home is one of the hundreds damaged by Tuesday’s tornadoes, you’re probably anxious to begin the process of repairing it. HOUSTON — Texans impacted by Tuesday’s powerful tornadoes have begun the process of putting their lives — and homes — back together. Whether you have extensive property damage or relatively minor repairs, you shouldn’t wait to contact your insurance company and get the ball rolling. The Texas Department of Insurance offers tips for…

If your home is one of the hundreds damaged by Tuesday’s tornadoes, you’re probably anxious to begin the process of repairing it. HOUSTON — Texans impacted by Tuesday’s powerful tornadoes have begun the process of putting their lives — and homes — back together. Whether you have extensive property damage or relatively minor repairs, you shouldn’t wait to contact your insurance company and get the ball rolling. The Texas Department of Insurance offers tips for…

The church pastor said the building was destroyed less than a year after it opened. PASADENA, Texas — A house of worship will be relying on faith to overcome what mother nature brought to Pasadena on Tuesday. “It was a great blessing that nobody got hurt,” Mouth of God Ministries Pastor Winston Cooper said. He said he started the church last February. He’s dealing with devastating tornado damage less than a year later. “Because our…

A lot of big-hearted Houstonians are looking for ways to help Tuesday’s tornado victims. There are several disaster relief agencies you can donate to. HOUSTON — As Houston-area tornado victims begin the daunting process of picking up the pieces, there are several agencies available to help them along the way. We’ve put together a list of resources, along with ways you can help.  Help for tornado victims Disaster shelters The Red Cross Baker Ripley shelter at…

A lot of big-hearted Houstonians are looking for ways to help Tuesday’s tornado victims. There are several disaster relief agencies you can donate to. HOUSTON — As Houston-area tornado victims begin the daunting process of picking up the pieces, there are several agencies available to help them along the way. We’ve put together a list of resources, along with ways you can help.  Help for tornado victims Disaster shelters The Red Cross Baker Ripley shelter at…

City officials in Pasadena, Baytown, and Deer Park are all planning damage surveys. The same goes for the National Weather Service. HOUSTON — The storms are gone but there’s a path of destruction that will take weeks to clean up after homes and businesses were shredded by tornados that swept across the Houston area Tuesday. The National Weather Service in Houston confirmed Wednesday that a preliminary report is confirming the damage in Pasadena and Deer…

City officials in Pasadena, Baytown, and Deer Park are all planning damage surveys. The same goes for the National Weather Service. HOUSTON — The storms are gone but there’s a path of destruction that will take weeks to clean up after homes and businesses were shredded by tornados that swept across the Houston area Tuesday. The National Weather Service in Houston confirmed Wednesday that a preliminary report is confirming the damage in Pasadena and Deer…

Lucio Vasquez / Houston Public Media Skate World in Deer Park received significant damage from a tornado on January 24, 2023. How rare was the tornado that ripped through the Houston area on Tuesday? The region had not seen a similar twister in more than 30 years, according to a local weather expert. Space City Weather editor Eric Berger said tornadoes, like the one that touched down in Deer Park, Pasadena and Pearland on Tuesday…

Recovering from a tornado or other major disaster can be overwhelming but the Red Cross offers tips for homeowners hit hard by Tuesday’s storms. PASADENA, Texas — Hundreds of families all over the Houston area are dealing with major damage from Tuesday’s tornadoes that touched down on the southside and in Pasadena, Deer Park and Baytown.  Many homes in those communities were destroyed but amazingly there were no reports of serious injuries. Picking up the…

Lisa Tynan The Pasadena Animal Shelter was damaged by a tornado on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. Lisa Tynan arrived at the Pasadena Animal Shelter at 5 p.m. Tuesday – about two hours after a tornado ripped the roof off a kennel building while dogs were inside. She saw the telltale signs of a tornado, such as collapsed structures and scattered debris, as well as scared, startled looks on the faces of more than 100 animals….

Damage caused by Tuesday’s severe weather has prompted closures of several major roads in the southeast Houston area.   The Pasadena Police Department announced in a Facebook post Wednesday morning that several roadways in and around the city will be “temporarily closed… due to the heavy damage sustained from the tornado.”   According to Pasadena PD, the following roads will be closed for now:  Fairmont Parkway @ Mickey Gilley Boulevard. Vista Road @ Mickey GIlley…

Brian Mead was delivering mail when he got caught in Tuesday’s tornado. His video from inside the mail truck shows debris flying and blinding rain. DEER PARK, Texas — Tuesday’s tornadoes were terrifying for a lot of people in the path of the powerful storms south and east of Houston.  Several drivers were caught off guard and had to ride out the tornadoes inside their vehicles.  A La Porte teen was in his pickup outside a Deer…