Joe.My.God. LGBT News
NBC News reports:
As days of sweltering heat persists, Houstonians have directed their frustration over the lack of electricity toward local utility company CenterPoint Energy, which is under increased scrutiny for a perceived slow response after Hurricane Beryl landed on the Gulf Coast of Texas earlier this week.
The dangerously hot temperatures this week have led to an increase in heat-related emergency calls and visits, with some local hospitals relying on generators.
Hundreds of people queued up inside their vehicles on Friday for ice and food such as fried chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans at a Wal-Mart near downtown. The hot meals were provided by Tyson Foods, which planned to offer 5,000 plates per day over the next few days.
The Texas Tribune reports:
State and local officials fielded residents’ frustrations and questions about whether the state and its largest power providers were adequately prepared for the storm. And they tried to mitigate the public health and safety risks arising from what is now becoming routine in Texas: large-scale power outages after natural disasters, which are only growing worse with climate change.
Most of the 1.5 million Texas households and businesses without power receive electricity through CenterPoint Energy. “We take our responsibility of serving our customers and working as safely and as quickly as possible to restore service very seriously,” said CenterPoint Senior Vice President Lynnae Wilson. “At the same time, we fully understand our customers are hot and growing more impatient with their outages.”
CNN reports:
The conditions have had life-threatening – and at times deadly – consequences. A 71-year-old woman died near Crystal Beach after her oxygen machine ran out of battery power and her generator shut down.
And at least two people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning in Harris County, where fire departments have responded to more than 200 carbon monoxide poisoning calls from people attempting to use generators.
Homes are also without drinking water as storm damage and power outages have left 135 wastewater treatment plants offline. Boil water notices stretch across eight counties in the Houston and Galveston area and water is being distributed across impacted communities.
The American Red Cross writes:
The American Red Cross is focused on supporting the growing need for emergency shelter as Texans seek relief from extreme heat and massive power outages after Hurricane Beryl.
More than a million customers remain without power and air conditioning as dangerous high temperatures continue. Power outages could linger through next week.
The actual number of people without power is much higher as companies report impacted customers and not how many people actually live in affected homes. On top of this, many face the loss of their homes or the need for extensive repairs.
Without power, people are scrambling to find food, gas and medical care. People have no gas for their vehicles, many have no drinking water and food is spoiling in refrigerators. Long lines of people are waiting at any restaurant or gas station with power. Hospitals and dialysis clinics are struggling to care for patients.
The situation is particularly dangerous for the elderly and people who rely on electric medical devices as power outages continue.
Residents are urged to check on their loved ones and neighbors. You can find cooling center locations at tdem.texas.gov/cool or call 311 for the latest information or contact your city or county office of emergency management.
From the editorial board of the Houston Chronicle:
Thumbs down: Perhaps the worst kept secret in Texas politics is that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants to have the big job someday. Well, with Gov. Greg Abbott out on a business jaunt to Asia — great timing there, guv! — Patrick got the keys to the castle for a few days.
He then proceeded to botch his first and most important test as acting governor: to throw a lifeline to his state’s largest city as a hurricane approached.
Anyone with a weather app knew, days before Hurricane Beryl made landfall, that it would affect Texas, and it’s not unusual for states to ask ahead of a big storm for the feds to get supplies ready. But Patrick apparently dragged his feet.
Nearly 1 million homes still without power in Texas #HopeForHumanity #HumanitarianAssistance #LifeSaving [Video]https://t.co/ZKKBNjewIu
— Victor Mah (@VictorMahNHI) July 13, 2024
Dan Patrick failed his first post-Beryl test in the big boy chair | Thumbs | Opinion https://t.co/uLyVQXZ5Bs
— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) July 13, 2024