Lawmakers are calling the power outage in Houston after Hurricane Beryl a “failure” by the power company, and frustration is spilling onto the streets, with a mural branding CenterPoint Energy as “no Centerpoint” going viral.
Even though Hurricane Beryl did not cause damage to the power grid, more than a million people in Houston are facing a fourth day without electricity or air conditioning, with heat that feels like triple digits and has already caused deaths.
“It appears they were not as prepared as they should have been and were not ready to go as quickly as they could have been,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said of CenterPoint during a meeting. Thursday afternoon press conference.
“We need to get the power back on. We’ll talk about what happened before the storm later,” Patrick added.
He promised that the state would investigate the utility company.
Anger over Houston’s power outage following Hurricane Beryl is spilling onto the streets, with graffiti mocking the utility appearing near a highway.
At least two people have died after carbon monoxide poisoning from the generator they were using to generate power, state officials confirmed.
“Living without electricity is not only uncomfortable, but dangerous,” one local tweeted. Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia.
‘@CenterPoint, your failure during this crisis is unacceptable. Texans deserve reliable power, especially in the aftermath of natural disasters. This isn’t just poor service; it’s a risk to our lives.’
CenterPoint officials confirmed the current power outage is due to damaged and downed power lines; it is not a power grid failure, the utility said. Local station KPRC.
As many as 2.7 million people were without power on Monday, but at least 1 million of them have now had power restored, CenterPoint said.
However, that did little to alleviate the misery of those without electricity, who had no way to cool off, charge their phones or even cook food.
“At this point, I would be remiss if I didn’t ask our friends at CenterPoint and all elected officials to get this issue resolved. People can’t live without electricity,” the local hero pleaded. Mack mattress online.
CenterPoint’s power outage map showed more than a million people in Houston were without power on Thursday
Utility trucks remain parked at a CenterPoint Energy staging facility at a gas station instead of working to restore power.
The businessman and philanthropist turned one of his furniture stores into a place where his citizen followers could go to get food and charge their phones.
The crisis is affecting Harris County hospitals, 12 of which are in “internal disaster” status, Texas Department of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said during a news conference Thursday. Press conference.
Field hospitals have been set up at NRG Stadium, home of the NFL’s Houston Texans, where 911 patients are being treated.
Joel Osteen’s megachurch Lakewood Church is serving as a cooling station while an estimated one million people are without power
Lakewood Church staff distribute water and operate a cooling station in Houston
Some residents have fled the area, seeking refuge in hotels in Austin and other nearby Texas cities.
Those who can’t get outside seek relief at cooling stations scattered around the city, like one installed at Joel Osteen’s megachurch Lakewood Church, for a place to sit in air conditioning and charge their electronic devices.
To make matters worse, people who don’t know don’t even have an estimate of when the power will come back on.
CenterPoint’s outrage map went down Monday, leaving Houstonians unable to even contact the power company or find out when their lights might come back on.
Houston resident Tiffany Guerra charges her cell phone and spends time with her dog Finn at a cooling station in Houston
CenterPoint Energy team members work to repair damaged lines as residents remain without power after a severe storm caused widespread damage in Houston, Texas
Traffic is diverted toward a downed power line in Houston on Tuesday
The utility now has an online map which was done as a stopgap measure, but is incorrect, many locals say, showing neighborhoods where the power had returned but not everyone on the street has electricity, KHOU reported.
While CenterPoint and state officials continue to insist they were prepared, bringing in 11,500 electricians ahead of the storm who would be ready to begin work as soon as the storm had passed.
However, many locals wonder why they see parking lots full of linemen sitting in trucks while they sweat at home in 90-degree heat.
One The lineman told KHOU He had been working since 6 a.m. and until noon he had been “sitting and waiting” for his work orders.
Around 11:30 a.m., he was finally sent to a neighborhood to begin work.