HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — After six days without power, hot and hungry Houstonians are anxiously waiting for electricity to be restored. The situation has been particularly brutal for seniors at the Campanile on Justice Park complex in northwest Houston.
“It’s like a heat wave up there,” said Leo Richardson. “It’s not nice, man.”
“You can open the windows, but all you get is hot air,” Clifford Jackson added.
Richardson and Jackson have been without power for six days. CenterPoint Energy has indicated that power could be restored by Wednesday night, but for these seniors, that’s too long to wait. When visited, they were both overheated and hungry.
Eyewitness News contacted Councilmember Amy Peck, who acknowledged the situation and coordinated assistance from firefighters, Metro, and the American Red Cross to support the affected residents.
“I have to take six cold showers per day. That’s how hot it is,” Richardson said.
They are not alone. CenterPoint Energy reported that nearly all customers affected by last week’s storm should have power back by Wednesday night.
If your power remains off, it might be due to damage to your equipment. A tree could have fallen on a weatherhead, a device where power lines enter your home. In such cases, you are responsible for repairs, not the utility company. Electricians advise against touching damaged equipment.
If power has been restored in your area but not at your house, there may be additional issues. “You don’t know when it’s going to come back on, and if you’re touching something when it does, it’s risky,” said Gilbert Soliz, director of education for Independent Electrical Contractors.
When hiring help, ensure the electrician is licensed. After repairs, the utility company can reconnect power. Normally, this requires a permit, but due to the disaster, permits should be expedited.
CenterPoint’s website features a tracker showing outage areas. Some residents have reported being without power even though their area isn’t listed.
