Houston, Texas – After the devastating storms that swept through Houston last week, leaving destruction in its wake, residents have finally received some good news. Power has been restored to a majority of the homes and businesses that were left without electricity and air conditioning in the hot and humid weather.
Last Thursday, the city of Houston was brought to a standstill as thunderstorms and hurricane-force winds tore through the area. The damage was widespread, with businesses and structures reduced to piles of debris, trees uprooted, and glass shattered from downtown skyscrapers. A tornado also touched down near the northwest Houston suburb of Cypress.
But as of Sunday evening, 88% of customers in the Houston area have had their power restored, according to Paul Lock, a spokesperson for CenterPoint Energy. This is a huge relief for the 289,000 homes and businesses that were still without electricity in Texas, with the majority being in the Houston area. In neighboring Louisiana, over 3,900 customers were also still without power.
The restoration of power is thanks to the hard work of 2,000 employees and over 5,000 contractors who have been working tirelessly to repair the damage. Lynnae Wilson, CenterPoint’s senior vice president of electric business, expressed their understanding of the urgency to restore power, especially with the high temperatures being experienced in the area.
To help those still without power and relief from the heat, cooling centers have been set up in the affected areas. One such center, located in the Cloverleaf neighborhood, saw residents seeking shelter from the scorching temperatures. Among them was Carolina Sierra and her 6-year-old son, Derek, who have been without electricity since the storm hit on Thursday. They were grateful for the air conditioning and charged their cellphones and a portable lamp for the night. Sierra shared that they have been struggling to stay cool, with her son having a hard time sleeping in the stifling heat.
The wait for power has been a desperate and difficult one for many Houston residents. Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia, who was helping at one of the cooling centers, acknowledged the slow recovery process. However, he remained hopeful and encouraged residents to stay strong.
But it’s not just power that residents are struggling without. The storm has caused significant damage to homes and businesses, leaving many without essential resources. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced that disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and loans from the Small Business Administration were on their way. This support will not only help those affected by the recent storms but also those who have been dealing with flooding since late April.
As the city works towards recovery, Mayor John Whitmire shared that a six-block area in downtown Houston would be closed on Monday to allow crews to continue repairs on high-rise buildings that had their windows blown out. The damage to these buildings added to the chaos and destruction caused by the storm.
Amidst the devastation, there have been heartwarming stories of people coming together to help one another. In one such instance, residents at the Houston Heights Tower, a senior housing facility, finally saw the lights and air conditioning come back on Sunday morning. They had been living on emergency power since the storm hit, with generators providing limited electricity. But volunteers and city workers made sure they had enough water, food, and supplies. Resident Joseph Torregrossa, with tears in his eyes, expressed his gratitude for the community’s support.
As the city braces for the coming week, the National Weather Service warns of hot and humid days ahead. With temperatures expected to reach 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit) and heat indexes likely to hit 39 degrees Celsius (102 F), it’s important for residents to stay safe and cool.
Lisa Reed, a resident of the Cloverleaf neighborhood, is still without electricity and sat outside her home in the sweltering heat on Sunday afternoon. She shared that her street was not spared from the destruction, with debris piled up along the sidewalks. Despite the damage, she remains positive and has faith that things will eventually work out.
The storm may have left a trail of destruction in Houston, but it has also brought out the best in people. From volunteers helping at cooling centers to neighbors coming together to clean up debris, the community has shown resilience and strength in the face of adversity. As Houston slowly recovers and rebuilds, let us continue to support and uplift one another. Together, we can weather any storm.
