The pressing question on the minds of thousands of families across North Texas is: when will the power be restored? Unfortunately, clear answers are scarce.
NBC 5 Investigates reached out to Oncor, the region’s largest power transmission operator, for information. However, a company spokesperson stated on Tuesday that officials were still assessing numerous damaged locations and determining whether repairs could be completed within hours or days.
Oncor mentioned that repair crews from various regions were mobilizing to assist. Yet, as of Tuesday afternoon, the company was still evaluating the extent of the assistance arriving and whether a broader call for additional aid would be necessary.
Meanwhile, residents and business owners are left in the dark about how long they need to prepare for continued power outages.
In downtown Plano, the Fillmore Pub operated by candlelight on Tuesday. Empty tables were lit with flickering candles as the lunch crowd was dispersed by the storm’s aftermath, which wreaked havoc outside, leaving behind toppled chairs, tree limbs, and a mess, along with power outages.
The power disruptions have left many small business owners uncertain about when they can resume normal operations.
“For us not knowing, like, ‘Hey, it will be back on in eight hours,’ or, ‘It will be back on in 72 hours,’ it’s a little nerve-wracking,” expressed Stephanie Duva, the Fillmore Pub’s general manager.
Duva emphasized that the uncertainty is especially challenging for staff, many of whom rely on their paychecks to cover expenses.
In Plano, some households north of downtown relied on portable generators to maintain power, while others made arrangements to spend the night elsewhere.
Max Goodrich, cleaning up storm debris in his front yard, heeded warnings from Plano city officials, who cautioned that power restoration might take days in some areas. Therefore, he prepared for the possibility of enduring several days without power.
“In many locations, utility poles were sheared off and need to be replaced from the ground up—a process that can take much longer than simply repairing wires,” Oncor officials explained, further adding to the uncertainty facing the region in the coming days.
