Texans Endure Deadly Heat Wave Amid Prolonged Power Outage
Over a week has passed since Hurricane Beryl wreaked havoc in Texas, leaving millions powerless. Currently, around 60,000 residents are still without electricity, struggling through a deadly heat wave that claimed another victim on Tuesday.
A local news report revealed that a woman, who had been without power and air conditioning for eight days, was found dead in her Houston apartment. The heat index in the city soared to 110°F (43°C) on the day of her death. With the power outage persisting and more than a dozen heat-related fatalities, tensions in Houston are rising, especially as high temperatures are forecasted to continue.
Frustration has escalated to the point where armed residents have allegedly threatened CenterPoint Energy workers attempting to restore power. Governor Greg Abbott expressed his dissatisfaction with the company, stating that it had “lost the faith and trust of Texans.” He has given CenterPoint Energy until July 31 to address the issues and propose solutions to enhance the electric grid’s resilience against hurricanes.
In a meeting with state and local officials, Governor Abbott discussed Texas’ response and recovery efforts following Hurricane Beryl. On Monday, CenterPoint’s senior vice president, Lynnae Wilson, reassured USA Today that they are dedicated to restoring power to all remaining customers who can receive it.
The toll of Hurricane Beryl in Texas includes 18 reported deaths, with several in the Houston area attributed to heat exposure following the power outage, according to the Harris County medical examiner’s office.
Emily Schkud, a north Houston resident, finally had power restored on Tuesday evening after nine days. “It’s shocking,” she told BBC News. “You would think we’re in a third-world country.” Despite the challenges, she feels fortunate to have survived the hurricane. During the outage, she stayed with neighbors and in hotels, incurring costs that she estimates could reach $10,000.
At the peak of the outage, nearly three million Texans were without power, primarily in the Houston area. The prolonged blackout, coupled with high temperatures, overwhelmed local hospitals, which soon reached capacity. To cope, churches and libraries were transformed into cooling centers, and Houston’s football stadium served as a transitional facility for overflow patients. On Wednesday, around 150 “seasonal relief” spaces were open in Houston, as the heat wave showed no signs of abating, with temperatures expected to exceed 90°F (32°C) through the weekend.
Climate scientists link the increased frequency and intensity of such heat waves to human-induced climate change. In the past two weeks, dozens of heat-related deaths have been reported across the US, even in typically mild states like Oregon.
