Convenience Big Store: What were you doing when the storm hit Cypress? Tell us your story.

What were you doing when the storm hit? Tell us your story

The past few weeks have been hard on Houstonians with two unexpected weather events, including flooding in Kingwood and Montgomery County and a derecho with hurricane-force winds bearing down on Houston's westside last week.

The effects are still being felt in Cypress, where thousands of residents and five Cy-Fair ISD schools are still without power. Local residents will likely be telling stories for years about where they were when the heavy winds first tore through Cypress, Spring Branch and the Heights.

What were you doing when the storm hit? How will you rebuild? How did your community come together? Tell us your story.

Ralph Green, Suburban reporter producer

ralph.green.@houstonchronicle.com

Education

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, center, visits damaged apartment complex on 8500 block Pitner Road with Houston Mayor John Whitmire, to her right, and Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones, to her left, Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at Spring Branch in Houston.

Photo by: Yi-Chin Lee, Staff Photographer

Cy-Fair, Spring Branch ISDs reopened most campuses today

Only five Cy-Fair ISD schools will be closed today, just days after Houston's derecho storm.

Need to Know

Workers restoring power lines at Hempstead Highway and Bingle Road in Spring Branch neighborhood Monday, May 20, 2024 in Houston.

Photo by: Yi-Chin Lee, Staff Photographer

Here's how to avoid scams after Houston's severe storm.

Scammers may be looking to take advantage of Houstonians during the aftermath of a severe storm that caused major damages. Here's what you should do to avoid scams.

Morgan Metoyer, a city of Houston parking ticket officer, prepares to place a ticket on the windshield of a car parked in downtown Houston on lower Westheimer.

Photo by: Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle

What happens if you don't pay your Houston parking tickets?

Do you have an unpaid parking ticket? Here's what you should know.

Growing Cy-Fair

Pulled pork and pork rib tray at CorkScrew BBQ

Photo by: J.C. Reid, Contributor

Northwest Houston BBQ restaurant ranks in top 5 of Yelp's top 100

A barbecue restaurant in Spring was ranked No. 2 in Yelp's latest Top 100 Barbecue Spots in 2024.

Openings and closings

Derby Houston opened a new restaurant within a private social club near Cypress. This new restaurant offers comfort food such as burgers, steak, steak salads, chicken wings and more. The menu also offers specialty dishes such as its Matt's Bad Ass Bacon that includes strips of thick-cut bacon with maple syrup.