Hundreds of thousands in Houston could be without power this weekend

Hundreds of people lined up outside the Bayland Community Center in Houston for ice, military-style rations and water. Local officials are still trying to provide more help to those without power.

Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones, whose office is coordinating the effort, spoke with those waiting in line.

“We’re expecting a very turbulent hurricane season, and a storm of this magnitude shouldn’t knock out power to this many people,” Briones said.

Hundreds of thousands of people in the Houston area are still at risk of not having power in their homes.

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Houston resident Enrique Pineda said he and his family travel to dozens of cooling centers to get air conditioning. He spoke of the lack of power after Hurricane Beryl, as well as the complete lack of electricity after the severe freeze in 2021 that nearly brought Texas’ power grid to a standstill.

People like him who live in southwest Houston, hit by a series of hurricane-related power outages, are tired of the power company’s promises.

CenterPoint, the utility company that provides most of the electricity for the nation’s fourth-largest city, is the target of local concern, not only from residents but also from politicians.

“We hope to have 80% of our customers back up by Sunday and the remaining customers will be the hardest hit by the downed trees. This is not a quick fix,” said Paul Locke, a spokesman for CenterPoint Energy.

Anger at the power company grew so intense that police in suburban Fort Bend County arrested a man for pointing an air gun at a line worker.

Leaders are hoping that reason will prevail and the recovery will continue, despite the oppressive heat and humidity.