Frustrations are mounting across southeast Texas as residents enter a fourth day of crippling power outages and heat, a combination that has proven dangerous – and at times deadly – as some struggle to access food, gas and medical care.
More than 1.3 million homes and businesses across the region are still without power after Beryl slammed into the Gulf Coast as a Category 1 hurricane on Monday, leaving at least 11 people dead across Texas and Louisiana.
Many residents are sheltering with friends or family who still have power, but many can’t afford to leave their homes, Houston City Councilman Julian Ramirez told CNN. And while countless families have lost food in their warming fridges, many stores are still closed, leaving government offices, food banks, and other public services scrambling to distribute food to underserved areas, he said.
Although being disconnected from the national grid is a problem. This isn’t the problem this time.
This was poor preparation and response by the city and power company. We haven’t had proper tree trimming around power lines and there weren’t repair crews staged for this. Not to mention trees dying off from extreme heat/cold then being blown down.
You don’t say? Maybe if there were some sort of rules to ensure proper procedures are in place AND being followed. Like regulations or something hmmm
I agree. I’d fucking love that.
People are downvoting every comment that recognizes this has nothing to do with ERCOT. They heard about ERCOT in 2021 and eagerly blame it for every power-related issue in Texas, apparently
Yup this is the city and Centerpoint that should be on the hook for this
At the same time, let’s recognize this was a hurricane, which would have similarly knocked out power in any metro area, and would’ve taken a few days to fix in any metro area. Centerpoint didn’t pre-stage outside assistance like they should have though, but to their very small credit, Beryl’s track changed dramatically from projections over the final 72 hours before landfall