HOUSTON—Approximately 500,000 homes and businesses in the Houston area will remain without power into next week, according to the city’s largest utility company. This news has frustrated residents and prompted a top state official to criticize the slow pace of recovery from Hurricane Beryl.
CenterPoint Energy’s Executive Vice President, Jason Ryan, reported that over 1 million customers have had their power restored since Beryl made landfall in Texas on Monday. The company anticipates bringing hundreds of thousands more customers back online by Sunday, but a significant number will still be without power for an extended period.
During a meeting of the Texas Public Utility Commission, Mr. Ryan acknowledged the ongoing work needed to restore power, especially along the Gulf Coast where Beryl hit.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation, stating that it is unacceptable for half a million customers to still be without power a week after the storm. Both Mr. Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott have promised to investigate the storm response to ensure better preparedness for future events.
The Category 1 hurricane caused power outages for around 2.7 million customers, with many residents questioning the utility and government’s readiness for the storm and the slow restoration process. CenterPoint Energy’s online map inaccuracies have also added to the frustration.
Despite the challenges, the company is working diligently to repair damage caused by falling trees and tree limbs. Beryl has been linked to multiple deaths in the U.S. and the Caribbean, with its impact on the power supply in Texas being particularly severe.
As the recovery efforts continue, residents like Mallary Cohee are facing hardships without power, clean water, and other essential services. Hospitals are also grappling with issues stemming from the storm, including staffing shortages and an influx of patients with heat-related illnesses.
The aftermath of Hurricane Beryl serves as a reminder of the importance of preparedness and effective response in the face of natural disasters.
By Juan A. Lozano and Nadia Lathan
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