Storm Aftermath

Storm aftermath: 1,400 homes damaged in Houston as clean-up begins, death toll rises

The number of reported deaths from Monday night's historic — and freakish — storm has increased to 5 people. City of Houston officials added a 66-year-old white male to the list. He was found at 1400 W. Loop South, and is believed to have died of a heart attack after assisting a stranded motorist.

The official cause of death is pending an autopsy by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

UPDATE: Officials added a sixth fatality to the list midday Wednesday. A recovery crew from the Texas Department of Transportation spotted a car at the entrance ramp near US-59 and the the West Loop (4900 Westpark) and brought in additional water pumps to drain the area. They discovered a 31-year-old Hispanic male near his vehicle.

There are also two missing persons unaccounted for at this time, officials said.

Residents are encouraged to document their damage by taking photos before cleaning up to help with insurance claims and other assistance.

An estimated 1,400 structures in the city limits suffered damage from the storm, officials added. The City of Houston Department of Neighborhoods in partnership with the Office of Emergency Management is conducting an initial assessment to determine the total number of affected structures. The process is necessary in order to help the city and the state of Texas make a case for a federal disaster declaration, according to a press release.

Residents are urged to call Houston 311 to report flooding in order for damage assessment teams to accurately understand the extent of damage. 311 is experiencing long wait times, so residents are asked to download the Houston 311 app on their mobile phones or visit houston311.org to submit a flooding report.

Residents are encouraged to document their damage by taking photos before cleaning up to help with insurance claims and other assistance.

Despite Wednesday's light rains, most roads in the Houston area are open. Houston residents can visit houstontranstar.org for information to find out the latest traffic conditions citywide.

The Southwest Wastewater Treatment Plant at 4211 Beechnut Avenue was damaged when Brays Bayou overflowed its banks, causing more than 100,000 gallons of untreated waste water to spill into the floodwaters in and around the bayou.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) was notified of the spill. In compliance with the TCEQ, the Department of Public Works and Engineering has provided public notice, available at houstontx.gov/emergency.

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warning for drivers

Texas steers onto list of states with highest speeding ticket costs

Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash

Gotta watch out for speed traps in Texas.

The next time you’re tempted to push past the speed limit on your Texas road trip or your commute to work, think about the risk to your life — and your bank account.

A new ranking from the FinanceBuzz website shows that when comparing all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Texas motorists pay the fourth highest amount in fines and court costs for going either 10 mph or 15 mph over the speed limit.

For a 10 mph-over-the-limit violation in Texas, the average fine and court costs total $223, according to FinanceBuzz. For a 15 mph infraction, the average speeding ticket will run you $245. Texas is one of only six states where a 15 mph-over-the-limit speeding ticket surpasses $200.

California ranks first in the 10 mph category ($234), and Nevada ranks first in the 15 mph category ($290).

If you’re slapped with a ticket for driving 40 mph over the speed limit in Texas, the fine and court costs are relatively low. At an average of $320, Texas sits at No. 21 on the FinanceBuzz list. Illinois ($2,500) leads the 40 mph category.

“Not all speeding incidents are the same, as the faster someone goes while driving, the more danger they pose to themselves and others sharing the road with them,” says FinanceBuzz. “As a result, the authorities tend to issue larger fines the faster a speeder is going.”

Of course, it might be tough to go even one mph over the speed limit if you’re driving on I-45 in the Houston area. The notoriously congested stretch of interstate highway is nearing the end of its “functional life,” according to the Washington, D.C.-based Congress of New Urbanism. I-45 is also the deadliest road in Texas, according to the latest National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data.

Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio are also home to some of the state’s most congested roads, according to the Texas Transportation Institute. And if you’re on any of those clogged roads, the danger of getting a speeding ticket might decrease.

driving financebuzz ranking highways houston speeding ticket reports speed limit speeding texas tickets