In what was initially expected to take weeks, Houston-area officials offered a far more optimistic timeline Saturday, saying most CenterPoint Energy customers should regain power by the end of the weekend after a storm with hurricane-force winds swept through the region, leaving at least seven people dead and nearly one million without power.
At least 10 transmission line towers were knocked down as 110 mph winds ravaged the area, and officials initially thought that widespread power outages would be difficult to restore, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said. However, CenterPoint Energy figured out a way to route electricity around the downed lines.
Officials initially said earlier Saturday that power would be restored by Wednesday, but around 9:30 p.m., CenterPoint said that 80 percent of its impacted customers should have power restored by Sunday night. About 400,000 customers remain without power, according to the energy company.
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CenterPoint said customers who are expected to be without power into next week will be notified through its messaging system, Power Alert Service.
The energy company encouraged people to check their electrical infrastructure, particularly their weatherhead, which is the point where power enters the home through an electric service drop, to ensure it wasn’t damaged by the storm. If it is damaged, the company said, an electrician will need to make repairs before power can be restored.
Thursday’s storm produced two confirmed tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service. One in Cypress, where numerous homes suffered roof damage and broken windows, and the second in Waller County in Pine Island, where meteorologists report that a large metal barn was destroyed, trailers rolled and debris was strewn for 1,000 yards.
The storm also pummeled high-rises in downtown Houston, causing windows to shatter and sending glass crashing to the street.
It was among the worst thunderstorms the region has seen since May 1983, but meteorologists said the storm itself wasn’t unprecedented and the likelihood of similar disasters is expected to increase with rising temperatures due to climate change.
Torrential rain caused major flooding across the Houston area two weeks ago, prompting mandatory evacuations as water levels nearly reached those during Hurricane Harvey. Hidalgo had been lobbying federal officials in Washington to expedite the approval of a disaster declaration and to allow both weather events to be part of it, effectively allowing expanded aid to victims.
President Joe Biden approved Texas’ major disaster declaration Friday night, making federal aid available to those impacted by recent weather events in Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity and Walker counties.
Individuals can apply for grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-interest loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
CenterPoint Energy power restoration map
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