At least 4 dead and 1 million without power in Texas as Houston was hit by 100 mph winds destroying trees and buildings

A powerful storm ripped through Texas on Thursday, leaving at least four people dead and about a million without power.

Houston, Texas, Mayor John Whitmire confirmed the deaths Thursday night, attributing them to strong wind and storms raging across the city.

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The windstorm produced gusts of more than 100 miles per hour, causing extensive damage and creating hazards that led to the four victims.

Two of the deaths were preliminarily attributed to trees downed by the storm, and a third was believed to have been killed by an overturned crane.

The cause of death of the fourth person has not yet been released.

Whitmire urged citizens to stay home and seek shelter if they find themselves in an unsafe situation.

Shelters were set up for those in need.

“Stay at home, don’t travel on the roads. It’s dark, there are trees on the roads,” she warned.

“So be very patient, be cautious, look out for each other, stay home tonight.”

The mayor also asked those affected to use 911 for storm-related emergencies.

Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña described the nature of the calls his team responded to.

Although no traps were reported, Peña said several 911 calls answered by the fire department were related to downed power lines and gas leaks.

He emphasized to residents that if they smell gas in their homes, they should leave and seek shelter elsewhere immediately.

As high winds and storms continued, power to the east side water system went out, leaving the plant operating on backup generators.

CenterPoint reported that nearly one million customers were without power, with some estimated to be without power for up to 48 hours.

Although Whitmire plans to give another statement tomorrow morning, he said all non-essential workers should stay home on Friday due to the storm’s possible dangerous consequences.

The National Weather Service also issued a flood warning for the area through Friday morning, with up to six inches of rain forecast.

FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS

With triple-digit wind speeds, several people reported broken windows under the relentless gusts.

“Oh my God! There go the windows,” Dave Lewis told local CBS news affiliate KHOU.

It sounded like a train horn – like 10 train horns – like everything we hear from people who have survived tornadoes.”

Wes Waitkuswitness of the storm

“A guy came in from the street and said something fell on his car and cut him open, about an eight-inch gash.”

Others remembered the wind physically moving the office skyscrapers they stood in.

“I could feel the ground moving,” Ann Tran said.

“I was sitting in an office and a door was sliding in and out by itself.”

For some, the sound the wind made worried them that a tornado was forming.

Although warnings were issued, there was no confirmed tornado formation.

“It looks like a tornado to me,” Lewis described.

“It sounded like a train horn — like 10 train horns — like everything we hear from people who have survived tornadoes,” Wes Waitkus said.

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