Power Outage Effects of Hurricanes and Storms in Texas

On September 1, 2008, a tropical disturbance west of the Cape Verde islands became a tropical storm named Ike. In a matter of days tropical storm Ike became a Category 4 hurricane headed for the gulf coast of the United States. News outlets in the U.S. anxiously tracked Hurricane Ike. Ike's intensity fluctuated, but its momentum remained steady as it made landfall in Cuba, then continued on towards Texas. On September 10, 2008, President George W. Bush made a preemptive declaration of emergency for Texas.

Hurricane Ike was devastating to the regions it struck. Galveston, Houston, and the surrounding areas were especially hard hit by the storm. These areas experienced massive, long-lasting power outages as a result of the hurricane. 90% of the 2 million customers of CenterPoint Energy, the largest power provider in the region, were left without power after the storm. Entergy Texas, another major power provider in the region, reported that an estimated 392,600 of their 395,000 customers lost power during the storm. The one area that was notably able to retain its power in Houston, Texas was the Texas Medical Center, a complex containing 13 renowned hospitals. People experiencing a myriad of medical complications due to the lack of power flocked to the Texas Medical Center for assistance after Hurricane Ike.

Residential homes were not the only places where power was conspicuously missing after Hurricane Ike. Many traffic signals in Houston were damaged or destroyed or were powerless due to the storm. Some estimate that as many as half of the city's 2,500 traffic signals were disabled by the storm. As a result, Houston's roads were congested with traffic for approximately two weeks after Ike hit. Some residents reported that their commutes stretched up to three hours because of the traffic jams.

Power outages in Texas can be truly devastating. Because natural disasters often occur during the hottest months of the year, it is vital that power remain on for as much of the city as possible. Due to the humidity in places like Houston, a power outage can mean quickly rotting food, billions in damage to restaurants and grocery stores, and insurance claims in the millions during traffic accidents. Many people are at risk for heat exhaustion and stroke during power outages, as the heat in asphalt and concrete covered cities builds to dangerous levels.

You could lose thousands of dollars in damage to your home and your property if the power goes out unexpectedly. Be prepared for this kind of disaster by having the phone numbers of your eclectricity company handy, so that you can report any downed lines or power outages right away.