VIDEO/PHOTOS: Emergency crews in southeast Texas were clearing debris and assessing flooding early Friday after powerful storms tore through the state, killing at least four people and knocking out power to nearly 800,000 customers.
The winds — which reached 100 mph — were reminiscent of 2008's Hurricane Ike, one of the costliest natural disasters in American history, Houston Mayor John Whitmire said in a briefing Thursday. A widespread 3 to 6 inches of rain fell north of Houston, with one of the highest totals reaching around 6.9 inches in 24 hours near Romayor.
The storm also battered New Orleans overnight, with severe thunderstorms and flooding possible again Friday, according to the local branch of the National Weather Service.