#PowerlessInHouston: The Devastating Impact of Hurricane Beryl

As of Friday, over 1.1 million households are still without power.

Heat Advisory:

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory until 9 p.m. CT Friday. With temperatures soaring into the 90s, heat indices will reach a deadly 106 degrees. This is a dangerous situation for those without power, especially the elderly, children, and those with health conditions.

Powerless:

According to CenterPoint Energy's Outage Tracker, 1.1 million customers are still in the dark, four days after Hurricane Beryl. The storm caused widespread devastation, and initially left a shocking 2.2 million (80% of CenterPoint's customers) without electricity.

The Long Road to Restoration:

CenterPoint has released a statement on X, promising to restore power to 80% of customers by the end of Sunday. This is small comfort to those suffering in the sweltering heat, with no electricity for fans, refrigerators, or medical devices.

The company's new power restoration map highlights areas across Houston in four colors:

• Green: Power restored, though individual homes may still be out.
• Light Green: Power back on, but potential nested outages remain.
• Blue: Crews are working to restore power in these areas.
• Orange: CenterPoint is still assessing the damage, with no ETA for restoration.

Nested Outages:

A nested outage occurs when specific homes or groups of homes still don't have power, even though the surrounding area has been restored. This is often due to damaged equipment, downed power lines, or faulty underground wiring.

How to Report an Outage:

• Entergy: Check the outage map and report outages here.
• CenterPoint Energy: View the outage map and call 713-207-2222 or 800-332-7143 to report. Sign up for Power Alert Service for updates.
• AEP Texas: Check the outage map and status here. Report outages by calling 866-223-8508 or online.
• Oncor: See their outage map and text "REG" to 66267 for updates. Report outages by calling 888-313-4747 or online.

Surviving the Power Outage:

Here are some vital tips for those struggling without power:

• Make a list of electricity-dependent items in your home.
• Have backup power sources like batteries and portable chargers.
• Ensure everyone has a flashlight.
• Check your home phone's battery backup.
• Use generators outdoors ONLY, away from windows.
• Unplug appliances to avoid surges.
• Plan for refrigerating medicines and power-dependent medical devices.
• Have a supply of water (1 gallon per person/day) and non-perishable food.
• Keep cash on hand and a fully-stocked first-aid kit.
• Stay informed with a battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio is ideal).

Stay safe, Houston. We stand with you in demanding action and accountability as you recover from this tragic storm.