HOUSTON – Nearly 1 million people in the Houston area were left without power after severe weather struck on Thursday evening. CenterPoint Energy reported that at the peak of the outages, approximately 922,000 customers were affected.

Power Restoration Efforts

On Friday, hundreds of thousands of residents were still without electricity as restoration efforts continued. CenterPoint Energy stated that damage to their facilities was extensive, and crews began working through the night to restore power. By morning, more than 2,000 employees and contractors, along with around 4,000 line workers and 1,000 vegetation professionals, were deployed to assist with the efforts.

Timeline of Power Outages:

Friday:

• 2:38 p.m.: 639,165 customers without power
• 9:15 a.m.: 726,548 customers without power
• 7:30 a.m.: 728,745 customers without power
• 6:15 a.m.: 731,906 customers without power

Thursday:

• 8:53 p.m.: 893,182 customers without power
• 8:41 p.m.: 896,558 customers without power
• 8:11 p.m.: 898,270 customers without power
• 7:30 p.m.: 879,228 customers without power
• 7:05 p.m.: 781,155 customers without power
• 6:50 p.m.: 632,226 customers without power
• 6:44 p.m.: 477,207 customers without power
• 6:40 p.m.: 342,577 customers without power
• 6:30 p.m.: 195,902 customers without power

CenterPoint’s Response and Future Outlook

CenterPoint Energy’s Senior Vice President of Electric Business, Lynnae Wilson, explained that due to significant damage to their transmission system, restoration in the hardest-hit areas could take several days or longer. The company is also deploying mobile generation resources to temporarily restore power to certain areas. The severe weather, including wind gusts between 65-85 mph, caused widespread damage, with the 290 corridor from Jersey Village to Waller being one of the hardest-hit areas, potentially impacted by a tornado based on Doppler radar data.

Mutual Assistance and Community Support

To expedite the restoration process, CenterPoint Energy has requested mutual assistance from nearby utility companies. This collaborative effort allows access to thousands of line workers and vegetation crews from across the country.

Residents dependent on electricity for life-sustaining equipment are urged to have an emergency plan in place, as uninterrupted power cannot be guaranteed. Customers are also advised to check their weatherhead, the point where power enters the home, for any damage and contact a qualified electrician if repairs are needed.

Safety Precautions and Updates

CenterPoint Energy emphasizes the importance of safety during the restoration process. Customers should stay at least 35 feet away from downed power lines and damaged electric utility equipment, treating all downed equipment as energized. Reports of downed lines can be made to CenterPoint Energy at (713) 207-2222.

Entergy Texas Outages and Restoration

Entergy Texas also experienced significant outages due to the storm. On Friday morning, around 14,800 customers remained without power, down from a peak of approximately 44,500 on Thursday night. Entergy Texas crews, along with additional resources from other states, are working diligently to restore power. Most customers are expected to have power restored by the end of the day on Friday.

Entergy Texas Outages:

Friday:

• 12:20 p.m.: 9,866 customers without power
• 6:20 a.m.: 17,032 customers without power

Thursday:

• 8:50 p.m.: 39,091 customers without power
• 8:11 p.m.: 42,285 customers without power
• 7:05 p.m.: 34,350 customers without power
• 6:44 p.m.: 25,967 customers without power
• 6:33 p.m.: 22,292 customers without power

Stay Safe and Informed

Residents are encouraged to stay informed and take necessary precautions during this time. Important safety tips include staying away from downed power lines and debris, reporting downed lines to authorities, and avoiding walking in flooded areas. Entergy Texas advises customers to stay weather aware, especially with forecasts predicting more severe weather and rain.

For ongoing updates on power restoration efforts and to report outages, customers can use the CenterPoint Energy and Entergy Texas outage maps and apps. Download The Local News App to stay connected and receive important updates directly to your phone.

Stay safe, Houston, and thank you to all the hardworking crews and community members aiding in the recovery efforts.

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