Power Restoration Progress: HOUSTON (AP) — Houston area residents received a glimmer of hope as officials announced that power was restored Sunday to the majority of those affected by last week’s deadly storms. The catastrophic weather event left hundreds of thousands without electricity and air conditioning amid soaring temperatures and high humidity.
The Aftermath of the Storm
The storms, which struck on Thursday, caused extensive damage across Houston, resulting in at least seven fatalities and bringing the city to a standstill. Thunderstorms accompanied by hurricane-force winds wreaked havoc, reducing businesses and other structures to debris, uprooting trees, and shattering glass in downtown skyscrapers. A tornado also touched down near the northwest suburb of Cypress, adding to the destruction.
Restoration Efforts
By Sunday evening, 88% of customers in the Houston area had their power restored, according to Paul Lock, spokesperson for CenterPoint Energy. “We expect everyone to be back on by the end of business Wednesday,” Lock said. Despite these efforts, more than 240,000 homes and businesses in Texas remained without electricity, predominantly in the Houston area. Additionally, over 1,780 customers in Louisiana, which also experienced strong winds and a suspected tornado, were still without power.
CenterPoint Energy mobilized a substantial workforce to address the outages, deploying 2,000 employees and over 5,000 contractors in the Houston area. “We understand the higher temperatures we are experiencing across Houston and surrounding communities make getting the lights and air conditioning back on even more important,” stated Lynnae Wilson, CenterPoint’s senior vice president of electric business.
Community Support and Relief Efforts
To provide relief from the oppressive heat, five cooling centers were established for residents still without power. At a community center in the Cloverleaf neighborhood, people sought refuge from the heat and waited for the return of their electricity. Carolina Sierra and her 6-year-old son, Derek, spent a few hours in air conditioning, having been without power since the storm hit. Derek kept himself busy by coloring a picture of a dragon while his mother charged her cellphone and a portable lamp.
“We are desperate,” Sierra said. “We hardly sleep at night because of the heat.”
Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia was present at the center on Sunday, assisting with the distribution of water and ice and offering words of encouragement to residents. Nearly 500 vehicles lined up at the center to receive supplies.
Federal Assistance and Recovery Plans
Federal disaster assistance and loans from the Small Business Administration are on the way, announced Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. This aid will support temporary housing and repairs for those impacted by the recent storms and the flooding from heavy rainfall in late April and early May across Houston, Harris County, and neighboring areas.
Downtown Houston and Infrastructure Repairs
Mayor John Whitmire stated that a six-block area in downtown Houston would remain closed on Monday to facilitate repairs after numerous high-rise buildings had their windows blown out. The community showed resilience and solidarity as volunteers and city workers ensured the provision of water, food, and essential supplies to those in need.
Residents of the Houston Heights Tower, a senior housing facility, cheered as their power and air conditioning were restored on Sunday morning. The nearly 200 residents had been relying on emergency power since Thursday, with generators powering only one elevator and a few fans in the community room.
Weather Forecast and Continued Challenges
The National Weather Service has forecasted “sunny, hot, and increasingly humid days” for the Houston area. Temperatures are expected to reach around 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) this week, with heat indexes possibly nearing 102 degrees (39 Celsius) by midweek.
Community Resilience
With temperatures hitting 91 degrees Fahrenheit (33 Celsius) on Sunday afternoon, Lisa Reed, a resident of the Cloverleaf neighborhood, sat outside her home, still without power. Volunteers from the AFL-CIO had helped clear a large tree that had fallen on two vehicles in her driveway. “It’s nothing I can do,” said Reed, a fifth-grade teacher. “Take it all in stride. I’m a firm believer that God will work it all out.”
Impact on Education
The severe weather also disrupted education for many students. Houston area school districts canceled classes for more than 400,000 students on Friday. The Houston Independent School District, the largest in the state, announced that 215 of its 274 campuses would reopen on Monday. However, two other large districts, Cypress-Fairbanks and Spring Branch, remained closed.
As Houston continues to recover from the devastating storms, the community’s resilience and the concerted efforts of utility workers, volunteers, and federal aid agencies provide a beacon of hope. The restoration of power and ongoing support efforts highlight the city’s determination to overcome the challenges posed by nature’s fury.
