These are storm updates we are currently reporting on KTRH Radio News. Please note we write our stories in all CAPS for the anchor's benefit.
DAN REILLY, WARNING COORDINATION METEROLOGIST WITH THE THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE HOUSTON-GALVESTON REGION..."Most of what we've seen around Deep Par k so far, and this is really preliminary, is kind of High End EF1 and Low End EF2. To some people that doesn't sound like a lot but that's actually very unusual. EF2 is quite significant. That's what we've seen so far based on the roof being removed from the church, for example, and the damage to the Senior Center."
IN SPITE OF THE REMARKABLE DEVESTATION, NO SERIOUS INJURIES OR FATALITIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED.
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DEER PARK SANITATION CREWS ARE MAKING A FIRT PASS AROUND TOWN COLLECTING DOWNED LIMBS AND VEGETATION DEBRIS FROM STREET CURBS. A SECOND PASS LATER TODAY WILL INCLUDE PICK-UP OF HEAVY TRASH. NO HOUSEHOLD TRASH IS BEING PICKED UP TODAY. IF YOU'RE CUTTING UP A DOWNED TREE, PLEASE MAKE SURE THE LIMBS ARE NO LARGER THAN IN SIX-FOOT SECTIONS. AND PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY VEHICLES BLOCKING DEBRIS PILES OR THE TRUCKS WON'T BE ABLE TO COLLECT IT.
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THE AMERICAN RED CROSS HAS OPENED A SHELTER AT BAKER RIPLEY'S PASADENA CAMPUS AT 720 FAIRMONT PARKWAY, OFFERING WARM MEALS, A PLACE TO SLEEP AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.
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AS OFF 11am TODAY, CENTERPOINT REPORTS 475 ACTIVE POWER OUTAGES AFFECTING MORE THAN 21-THOUSAND CUSTOMERS. IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY MORE THAN 15-HUNDRED ENTERGY CUSTOMERS ARE WITHOUT POWER. 35 CUSTOMERS IN LIBERTY COUNTY STILL DON'T HAVE POWER; 762 ENTERGY CUSTOMERS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY; AND MORE THAN 13-500 ENTERGY CUSTOMERS LONG THE LOUISIANA BORDER IN ORANGE COUNTY.
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THE RED CROSS AND SALVATION ARMY ARE AT BURKE ROAD AND YELLOWSTONE DRIVE IN PASADENA ASSISTING TORNADO VICTIMS AND OFFERING CLEAN-UP KITS. *ACADEMY SPORTS AND OUTDOORS* IN PASADENA IS OFFERING FREE CASES OF 240-COUNT BOTTLED WATER WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. JUST LOOK FOR THE 18 -WHEELER PARKED IN FRONT OF THE STORE. THE CITY OF PASADENA IS ASKING RESIDENTS TO STAY AWAY FROM THE AREA OF BELTWAY 8 AND GENOA RED BLUFF; FAIRMONT PARKWAY AND MICKEY GILLEY; AS WELL AS BURKE AT CRENSHAW. PASADENA POLICE REPORT DOWNED POWER LINES AT BURKE AND PARKRIDGE, IN ADDITION TO OVERTURNED COMMERCIAL TRUCKS NEAR BELTWAY 8 AND FAIRMONT AND VISTA. THE TORNADO DERAILED A TRAIN AT STATE HIGHWAY 225. ALL PASADENA I-S-D SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED TODAY.
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THE E-F 2 TORNADO RIPPED THE ROOF OFF THE PASADENA ANIMAL SHELTER WHERE DOGS WERE HOUSED. LARISA IS A VOLUNTEER WITH *LOA'S LUCKY DAY DOG* IN PASADENA*.
"We just showed up to help facilitate getting these dogs into safety. There's obviously no power here now. So we're doing out best to get them out of here. It's a catastrophe over there, that building is completely destroyed so they had to get all the dogs out<' Larisa Day tells our TV Partner Channel 2.
TO HELP - GO TO THEIR WEBSITE - GOOGLE *PASADENA ANIMAL SHELTER*, THEY NEED VOLUNTEERS, FOSTERS, ADOPTERS, WALKERS, TOWELS, FOOD, BONES AND ANYONE WILLING TO OFFER TIME TO HELP WITH THE CLEAN UP.
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The Houston Chronicle is reporting the following road closures in Pasadena:
The following are the latest road closures and traffic light issues Pasadena residents should know about, according to the Pasadena Police Department:
Pasadena road closures
- Fairmont Parkway at Mickey Gilley Blvd.
- Vista Road at Mickey Gilley Blvd.
- 5150 Burke Road (Animal Shelter)
- Iroquois Drive/Ponca Street
- Spencer Highway from Space Center Blvd. to Lilac Street (includes Beltway 8 intersection)
Pasadena traffic lights out
- Preston Road/Yellowstone Drive
- Preston Road/Pasadena Blvd.
- Preston Road/Red Bluff Drive
- Burke Road/Cherrybrooke Lane
- Burke Road/Harris Avenue
- Burke Road/Jenkins Road
- Spencer Hwy./Burke Road
- Spencer Hwy./Westside Drive
- Spencer Hwy./Watters Road
- Beltway 8/Pine Avenue
- Fairmont Parkway/Burke Road
- Vista Road/Mickey Gilley Blvd.
- Shaver Street/Fresa Road
- Red Bluff Road/Harris Avenue
- Red Bluff Road/Orrel Drive
- Red Bluff Road/Kingsdale Drive
- Fairmont Parkway/Fairway Plaza
- Spencer Hwy./Space Center Blvd.
- Vista Road/Space Center Blvd.
- Crenshaw Road/Space Center Blvd.
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THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS YESTERDAY'S STORM THAT BROUGHT WIDE-SPREAD DAMAGE IS THE FIRST TIME THE TERM *TORNADO EMERGENCY* HAS EVER BEEN USED IN SOUTHWEST TEXAS. IT WAS FIRST COINED IN 2016 AND MEANS CONDITIONS POSE A SEVERE THREAT TO HUMAN LIFE AND THERE COULD BE IMMINENT CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE.
photo: Getty Images