Houston Storm: School Closures, Power Outages and Resources

HOUSTON — A deadly storm ravaged the Houston area Thursday, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of people, damaging structures and scattering debris everywhere. At least eight people lost their lives.

Now that the storm has passed, heat is a problem for many as the cleanup begins. Here are some things you need to know to stay safe

• Power outages: CenterPoint was experiencing massive power outages throughout the region. They told people to prepare for long periods without power. CenterPoint shared a map Saturday evening showing estimates of when power would be restored.
• Call 311: If you notice debris on the road or other road hazards, call 311. Call 911 only in life-threatening situations.
• Stay away from power lines: Assume all lines are energized and remain 35 feet away, according to CenterPoint. Never spray water on a sparking or burning wire or try to remove a tree branch or other object. If you see a downed power line, call CenterPoint Energy at 713-207-2222.
• Report the damage: The Texas Department of Insurance has steps to take to recover from the storm, including how to file a claim. They also have information on how to find reputable contractors.
• State of Texas Damage Reports: The state wants to hear from you if you have suffered damage. Instructions in English and Spanish

Thursday’s storms damaged a facility housing election equipment, but that is not stopping early voting for the May 28 primary runoff election, according to Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth. There are just a few changes. You can read everything here.

HISD has a list of schools that will be open. Cy Fair ISD, Galena Park ISD and Channelview ISD are closed Monday. Katy ISD, Crosby ISD and Tomball ISD are open. See the full list.

• Ask everyone to minimize travel to affected areas
• Street and traffic light outages persist
• There is an “exclusion zone” downtown, meaning no traffic is allowed from Louisiana to Travis and from McKinney to Polk.
• Workers will repair broken windows in the area. The City asks you not to hinder their work.
• City center remains dangerous due to falling glass

• Municipal services will continue
• Solid waste will begin picking up storm-related debris and trash. They ask residents to place items on the sidewalk without obstructing the street.
• The municipal courts will not sit. The city said only “first-level” employees are required to meet the needs of magistrates.

RELATED: Did You Lose Power? Here’s how to safely power your home with a generator

The Houston Independent School District and the Houston Food Bank will provide free food and cleaning supplies to families affected by the storm, up to 500 families per site.

1417 Houston Avenue, Houston, Texas 77007

Boys and Girls Club of Morefield

5950 Selisky Road, Houston, Texas 77007

6050 Brettshire Drive, Houston, Texas77061

CenterPoint Energy’s damage assessment and restoration efforts continue. As of 12:40 p.m. Monday, CenterPoint reported 217,797 customers were without power. Their tracker indicates that 280,535 customers have been restored in the last 24 hours.

In some parts of the company’s service area where infrastructure damage has been significant, restoration efforts are expected to take several days, and some of the hardest-hit areas could take longer.

Extensive damage includes downed transmission towers, poles and cables.

CenterPoint Energy urges customers to always stay at least 35 feet away from downed power lines and damaged electrical equipment. Treat all failed and damaged equipment as energized and report it to the company at (713) 207-2222.