One person was reported dead in Brazoria County, Texas, just south of Houston, on Saturday. In Mississippi, two deaths were recorded – one in Natchez and another in Lowndes County. Moving northward, a tragic incident unfolded in North Carolina’s Iredell County on Sunday morning when a tree fell on a vehicle along Highway 152.
A rare Particularly Dangerous Situation Tornado Watch was issued on Saturday afternoon for east Texas, southeast Arkansas, a significant portion of Louisiana, and western Mississippi. This was succeeded by multiple Tornado Warnings as severe weather persisted into Sunday.
Severe storms swept through the greater Houston area on Saturday, resulting in notable damage and at least one fatality on the outskirts of the metropolitan region. The National Weather Service confirmed a minimum of six tornadoes touching down, with reports of destruction in areas such as Katy, Porter Heights, Splendora, Alvin, and Smith Point.
In Katy, video footage captured debris hurtling through the air as an EF-1 tornado tore through, causing damage to a mobile home park and overturning vehicles. Porter Heights endured significant damage, as drone footage revealed extensive structural harm to buildings. Although the East Montgomery Fire Department was directly affected, no injuries were reported among their team. Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough affirmed the successful rescue of 15 individuals trapped in their homes by the storm.
Near Alvin, multiple residences were destroyed, and debris littered State Highway 35, with at least one death reported in Brazoria County. This marked the second occasion within a single week that tornadoes had impacted the Houston area.
The O’Zion Church in Meadville, Mississippi, recognized for its “small church, big heart” ethos, was devastated by a powerful tornado. The tornado ripped through the structure, even hurling the steeple across a nearby wooded area. Despite the widespread devastation, a small area where two congregants sought shelter during the storm remained miraculously untouched.
“One bare spot in this church, about a 6-foot diameter, has a clean floor,” recounted a congregant. “That’s where she and I were laying. After it was over, we stood up and… we didn’t have a splinter on us.” This wasn’t the first time O’Zion Church had faced adversity, as Church Secretary Phyllis Daniels Whittington recalled a tornado striking the church on May 5, 1934.
Despite the recent calamity, the congregation remained resolute. “We’re all devastated, but we know (God) has a future, a bright future for us,” shared Whittington. National Weather Service teams are currently conducting damage assessments in Franklin County to ascertain the tornado’s strength that ravaged the church.
Tragically, two individuals lost their lives following the storms on Saturday night in Mississippi. Adams County Coroner James Lee confirmed at least one fatality in Natchez, while Mississippi Governor Tate.
