CYPRESS, Texas — One of the eight Houston-area residents killed in Thursday night's intense thunderstorms was an 85-year-old grandmother.
The Cypress-area woman and a pet dog named Ozzy died when lightning struck their home and sparked a fire on Cypress Meadows Drive.
Other family members had left earlier to buy flashlights and candles after the storm knocked out their power. When they returned, the house had burned down and two beloved family members were dead.
They lost everything, including a lifetime of memories and mementos.
The victim's grandson has set up a GoFundMe.com account to help them start over.
"We are heartbroken and trying to pick up the pieces. Any help you can provide will go towards rebuilding their lives and covering immediate needs. Your generosity means the world to us," he shared. "Thank you from the bottom of our hearts."
At least seven other people died in the derecho storm, including a mother of four killed when a tree fell on her car, a man in the Heights killed when a tree fell on his home and a man killed when a big crane fell on his cement truck.
