Houston Hurricane Beryl has plunged Houston into a state of turmoil, with widespread power outages, impassable streets, and a community grappling with the aftermath of a devastating natural disaster.
Without electricity, without telephone connections, without gasoline to run cars, with flights canceled and with scorching heat, Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States, has come to a standstill. More than 20 lakh homes and businesses are in the dark, battling sweltering temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with no relief from air conditioning or fans.
CenterPoint Energy is in a race against time, aiming to restore power to 10 lakh customers by the end of the day (July 10), a feat amid downed lines and major damage.
Schools and businesses remain closed, unable to operate amid the power outage and widespread damage. Streets are flooded, trees are scattered and leaking roofs add to the city's woes, creating scenes reminiscent of a disaster movie.
Mobile and internet services are spotty at best, complicating communication and making it difficult for residents to request help or stay informed.
Acting Gov. Dan Patrick spoke by phone with President Joe Biden on Tuesday to request the declaration that will help speed up the recovery process with financial aid. Biden declared a federal disaster for half of Texas counties to aid storm recovery efforts, but signs of fuel shortages and disrupted services persist.
The declaration will help cover Beryl recovery costs for cities, counties and the state, including the enormous cost of debris cleanup.
"The emergency declaration that Governor Patrick worked on with the president will provide a 75 percent reimbursement for debris cleanup, and that is for the 121 affected counties," said the head of the Texas Division of Emergency Management , W Nim Kidd.
Amid the chaos, Houstonians are showing resilience, with community spirit shining through as neighbors help each other navigate the challenges of life without electricity.
Despite the usual summer heat, the combination of extreme weather and humidity, compounded by energy shortages, poses serious health risks, with heat index values forecast to reach as high as 106 degrees Fahrenheit.
CenterPoint Energy, the major utility provider, is working to restore power, aiming to reach 10 lakh customers by the end of the day (July 10). Residents endure sweltering conditions without air conditioning, and frustration mounts over recurring power outages during stormy seasons.
"Approximately 24 hours since it was safe to release crews into the field, we have restored power to more than 640,000 customers and are on track to have restored 1 million of the 2.26 million affected customers by the end of the day tomorrow. "said the statement. company published in X.
"Our transmission crews have been working around the clock since Hurricane Beryl's destructive winds caused widespread damage in Jamaica Beach to restore power to hundreds of people in the area."
The impact of the storm included flooded streets, downed trees, leaking roofs, and extensive property damage, resulting in several deaths. Local infrastructure, including internet and mobile services, has also been affected, compounding challenges for residents trying to cope with the fallout. Residents express frustration, helplessness and exhaustion over recurring power outages and subsequent hardships.
Without electricity, without telephone connections, without gasoline to run cars, with flights canceled and with scorching heat, Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States, has come to a standstill. More than 20 lakh homes and businesses are in the dark, battling sweltering temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with no relief from air conditioning or fans.
CenterPoint Energy is in a race against time, aiming to restore power to 10 lakh customers by the end of the day (July 10), a feat amid downed lines and major damage.
Schools and businesses remain closed, unable to operate amid the power outage and widespread damage. Streets are flooded, trees are scattered and leaking roofs add to the city's woes, creating scenes reminiscent of a disaster movie.
Mobile and internet services are spotty at best, complicating communication and making it difficult for residents to request help or stay informed.
Acting Gov. Dan Patrick spoke by phone with President Joe Biden on Tuesday to request the declaration that will help speed up the recovery process with financial aid. Biden declared a federal disaster for half of Texas counties to aid storm recovery efforts, but signs of fuel shortages and disrupted services persist.
The declaration will help cover Beryl recovery costs for cities, counties and the state, including the enormous cost of debris cleanup.
"The emergency declaration that Governor Patrick worked on with the president will provide a 75 percent reimbursement for debris cleanup, and that is for the 121 affected counties," said the head of the Texas Division of Emergency Management , W Nim Kidd.
Amid the chaos, Houstonians are showing resilience, with community spirit shining through as neighbors help each other navigate the challenges of life without electricity.
Despite the usual summer heat, the combination of extreme weather and humidity, compounded by energy shortages, poses serious health risks, with heat index values forecast to reach as high as 106 degrees Fahrenheit.
CenterPoint Energy, the major utility provider, is working to restore power, aiming to reach 10 lakh customers by the end of the day (July 10). Residents endure sweltering conditions without air conditioning, and frustration mounts over recurring power outages during stormy seasons.
"Approximately 24 hours since it was safe to release crews into the field, we have restored power to more than 640,000 customers and are on track to have restored 1 million of the 2.26 million affected customers by the end of the day tomorrow. "said the statement. company published in X.
"Our transmission crews have been working around the clock since Hurricane Beryl's destructive winds caused widespread damage in Jamaica Beach to restore power to hundreds of people in the area."
The impact of the storm included flooded streets, downed trees, leaking roofs, and extensive property damage, resulting in several deaths. Local infrastructure, including internet and mobile services, has also been affected, compounding challenges for residents trying to cope with the fallout. Residents express frustration, helplessness and exhaustion over recurring power outages and subsequent hardships.
