Montgomery County Judge says it’s ‘highly likely’ a tornado hit the Porter Heights area

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — In Montgomery County, several homeowners were still without power Saturday night. County Judge Mark Keough said it’s highly likely a tornado touched down in the Porter Heights area.

Several large trees were knocked down and homes were damaged, but residents in one neighborhood said they felt lucky because no one was hurt.

Minutes after being warned, the weather became dangerous.

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“It went from bad to worse, that was crazy,” Bill Hustus, a longtime resident, said. “There was a two-story house right there [across the street] that is no longer there.”

Hustus says the strong winds also caused some trees to fall on his house.

“The first branch hit the ceiling and it started raining in there,” Hustus said.

The strong winds were widespread, also pushing over a metal shed nearby.

Across FM 1314, on the westbound side, a sheet metal storage building suffered significant damage. Keough said he surveyed the area.

After many trees were knocked down, neighbors spent their evening cleaning up. Some cleanup crews were cutting up the large trees that fell while others sorted debris piles.

Some residents were unsure where to start after such widespread damage to their homes.

“It’s a big mess back there … but it’s all fixable,” Hustus said.

He said none of his neighbors were hurt when the tornado touched down.

Keough has opened a shelter in Splendora at 16401 1st Street. The shelter is open to anyone displaced by storm damage and is pet-friendly.