Cyclone in the United States "Hanna" leaves a trail of devastation

Heavy rains, covered houses and torn down electricity pylons - the storm "Hanna" left severe devastation in the US state of Texas and in northern Mexico. More than 180,000 households were without electricity.

Storm "Hanna" hit the south of the US state of Texas with heavy rains and strong gusts of wind. Electricity pylons were torn down and houses covered, especially in the coastal region. More than 180,000 people were temporarily without electricity, as the energy supplier AEP Texas announced.

There was also heavy rainfall in northeastern Mexico. There were initially no reports of deaths on either side of the border.

The hurricane is moving toward the Texas coast.

"Hanna" had reached Texas as a lowest-level hurricane, with wing speeds of up to 150 kilometers per hour. Shortly afterwards, the National Hurricane Center of the US climate agency NOAA downgraded it to a tropical storm. The governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, had declared a state of emergency for numerous counties.

Burden for fighting corona pandemic
Regions that are currently struggling with a high number of corona infections were particularly affected by the storm. In Hidalgo County, for example, the authorities cleared a community center for patients who tested positive and had to leave their homes because of "Hanna". Elsewhere, hotels, schools and sports halls have been converted into emergency shelters.

Abbott said some people should be provided with hotel rooms to keep them away from others in need. The spread of the coronavirus and a potential increase in virus deaths from the hurricane must be prevented.

NOAA anticipates many hurricanes
NOAA expected an above-average active hurricane season this year over the Atlantic. The authority announced this in May. This is due to a number of factors such as higher water temperatures near the surface in the Atlantic and the Caribbean, weaker trade winds and a stronger West African monsoon.

From June to the end of November, up to ten hurricanes can therefore be expected, of which up to six could be very severe cyclones, the authority had said. There are an average of six hurricanes per year across the Atlantic, three of which are becoming storms of great magnitude.

Another hurricane has meanwhile occurred in the Pacific. "Douglas" threatens the islands of the US state of Hawaii: According to the authorities, the hurricane will move at or just past the islands at wind speeds of around 140 kilometers per hour. Life-threatening high and potentially destructive waves, heavy rains and dangerous storm surges were predicted.