Claim: Tropical Storm Edouard’s winds collapsed the Sabine Pass Independent School stadium.
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Tropical Storm Edouard began taking shape over the northern Gulf of Mexico as a disturbance became increasingly organized. The system strengthened rapidly, prompting forecasters to closely monitor its progress as it headed toward the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast.
By September 1, 2026, Edouard was closing in on the coast, bringing increasingly dangerous conditions to Southeast Texas. Strong winds battered coastal communities, with gusts reaching about 70 mph near Port Arthur and 67 mph near Beaumont.
Edouard made landfall near Johnson Bayou, Louisiana, that afternoon, just east of the Texas-Louisiana border. As the storm pushed through the region, reports emerged that it had collapsed a wall at the Sabine Pass Independent School stadium in Sabine Pass, Texas.
But is that really the case? Here’s what we found.
Our Verdict: True
Video footage captured by a storm chaser showed part of the stadium structure giving way as Edouard’s winds battered the area. By that evening, the storm had moved inland and rapidly weakened, leading forecasters to downgrade it from a tropical storm to a tropical depression.
However, the drop in wind intensity did little to ease the immediate threat. Even as Edouard weakened, the system continued funneling an enormous amount of tropical moisture into Southeast Texas. By the following day, rainfall had emerged as the storm’s greatest danger.
More than 20 inches of rain fell in parts of Hardin and Tyler counties, triggering flash-flood emergencies as water overwhelmed roads, drainage systems and waterways. The deluge also brought down trees and power lines, leaving thousands of residents without electricity.
At one point, roughly 32,000 customers in Jefferson County, which includes Beaumont, were reported to be without power. Meanwhile, rising floodwaters stranded motorists and inundated homes and other buildings, prompting widespread disruptions and rescue operations across the region.
One of the more serious incidents involved a damaged assisted-living facility, where 21 residents had to be evacuated. Several schools and government offices in affected communities were also forced to close as authorities urged residents to stay off flooded roads.
The danger persisted into September 3, as Edouard’s remnants slowly moved across the region. Although the system continued to weaken, its sluggish movement allowed additional rain to fall over already saturated areas, prolonging the threat of flooding.
From September 3 onward, Edouard’s remnants gradually lost their tropical characteristics before eventually dissipating.
Our fact-checking sources:
- Houston Chronicle, August 31, 2026. Tropical Storm Edouard forms in Gulf of Mexico, heads for Southeast Texas
- Fox26Houston, September 2, 2026. Tropical Storm Edouard lashes Texas with disaster declared in parts of state
- Fox26Houston, September 2, 2026. Tropical Storm Edouard damages Sabine Pass Independent School stadium
- Times of India, September 2, 2026. Tropical depression Edouard brings floods to Texas; knocks out power for thousands
- 12News, September 3, 2026. 21 patients evacuated from Hardin County facility after storm damage