Inside the ongoing power issues in Houston impacting more than a million people

More than a million people in the Houston area are still without electricity following the destruction from Hurricane Beryl as triple-digit temperatures scorch the state. Emily Foxhall, climate reporter for the Texas Tribune, joined CBS News to discuss the outage.
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[@marthamoreno7825]

What a shame the government has all the power over citizens (taxes, fees, 💰 🤑 ) but no power to speed this essential service. Wtf!

[@kanank13]

how about people being realtistic and practical ? No company can restore a massive disaster related destruction quickly within a few days. so much material and human labor is needed.

[@mopthermopther]

@@kanank13 people like to complain

[@mocheeks709]

Texas is not hooked up to the National power grid, so they can avoid federal regulations, how's that working out for you and your antiquated 19th century power grid.

[@sadiepooh3479]

How about the workers being there and not allowed to do the work because the Company doesn't want to pay?! No declaration of a disaster, so Center point doesn't want to pay! It's their fault at this point!

[@sadiepooh3479]

​@@kanank13Parts of neighborhoods have power and those just down the street doesn't! How does that happen? Please!!

[@pindapoy1596]

This report does not come near the issues that are of real interest like:(1) does the grid have enough power from the generating stations, (2) is the current equipment adequate for the demand (3) is the grid properly designed for today's needs (4) is there investment in new plants and other electrical systems, (5) is the Texas isolated power system still a good way to go in the 21st century? etc, etc. The video is dancing around the real issues and nobody dares talk the truth..

[@sadiepooh3479]

Exactly!

[@pindapoy1596]

@@sadiepooh3479 Thank you from an electrical engineer

[@DebraJohnson]

Because the grid wasn’t the issue with this storm. It was damage to the infrastructure.

[@DeanTX]

Want to know the real problem? We haven't had a severe windstorm in 16 years, and thats how long it has been that they have not been trimming trees, upgrading above ground infrastructure ect. But Centerpoint Energy CEO got paid over 35 million last year, so.... all those bonuses for saving money by deferring maintenance.... all good, right?

[@busyjaymz]

You stated the fact, friend. I grew up in heavily forested parts of the country and the power just didn’t drop from windstorms, ice storms or squirrels biting transformers or wtf-ever they tell us down here. They got paid up front and can pass emergency costs to the consumer and taxpayer. It’s not in their interest to “maintain”

[@darrtrubb]

Reminds me of Florida.

[@cobra-mn745]

the funny part is that CEO probably doesn't even get his electric power from the same company

[@michaelshrader5139]

And far too many new people have moved here since Ike in 2008.... More people is not better! Read up on the Law of Diminishing Return.

[@generaltso9402]

All this from Cat 1 storm.

[@ledwallet1944]

I'm from southern Alabama (south of interstate 10) and have been without electricity from cat 1 storms more than higher storms. What it really depends on is the weather before and during the storm. In 2018 we were out for 3-4 days from a tropical storm. Ground was wet from previous rain, the storm was a slow mover and dropped wore rain etc... This contributed to a lot of trees coming down and tearing up the grid. Crews will not come in to repair until the storm passes so you have to wait for them too.

[@sadiepooh3479]

Right?!?

[@AJXOXO-vz1pn]

A Cat 1 storm,. The weakest of the hurricane storms. Imagine what would’ve happened if there was a Cat 5 storm.

[@sadiepooh3479]

@@AJXOXO-vz1pn My thoughts exactly! I guess they're holding out so we can keep buying generators, window AC units and batteries! Empty our pockets into theirs!!😡

[@Jason-..-]

A cat 1 hurricane is no joke. It is the strongest storm on the planet apart from bigger hurricanes

[@409_Texas]

You would think Houston would be more prepared since Harvey

[@DeanTX]

Harvey was only rain, we havent had windstorm damage like this in 16 years, and Centerpoint deffered maintenance on the infrastructure to save money and write bonus checks to the CEO this whole time.... They can't even get an outage tracker up and running.... it has been down since May....

[@busyjaymz]

Power outages weren’t as big a problem in Harvey as it was in Ike and more recently the ice storms and mysterious “derechos”. With that said, centerpoint should’ve been better prepared.

[@jtpalooki7757]

Why should they, there is nothing mandating them bringing the grid into the 21st century! 90% of the state is like this.. And has anyone heard from the governor lately? Seems he is more concerned about illegals than he is about tax paying citizens!

[@theevermind]

The current people in charge funnel money to their buddies rather than spending it on infrastructure. The county does not maintain its equipment. They won't even hire a plumber to maintain their buildings. Houston & Harris County perpetually learn the wrong lessons. For example, with Harvey, it was flooding, and they learned to snag fed money. Preventing the electric system from failing after every mild weather situation is not something they ever learned. I think a big part of it is hoping individuals pay for infrastructure themselves, like buying generators. Then, the govt will ignore the problem so they can keep giving money to their political allies.

[@AJXOXO-vz1pn]

All that preparedness talk is just BS lip service to trick people into thinking things are being done to prevent these things from happening.

[@vickmcfadden833]

I seen a truck today on my street on day 4 but it was for phone company man I’m about to blow a fuse i can’t take another day of this heat

[@theevermind]

"Beryl was a category 1 with 90 mile an hour winds" Odd, the Nat'l Hurricane Center said it was 80 mph. Obviously, it has gusts above that, but we don't use those as a measurement. And that was the MAX, not the actual winds across the storm. And it was when it hit, but the winds decrease as it moves inland. Lots of poles were breaking on the north side of Houston, and the winds at those spots were probably only in the 30s, e.g., not even tropical storm strength. I firmly believe the failures Houston were the result of poor maintenance, not unprecedented weather. Harris County should focus on maintaining infrastructure instead of hiring "lactation experts" and other paying other scams that benefit the buddies of Lina Hidalgo.

[@michaelshrader5139]

Ike in 2008 was a strong Cat 3 storm when it went across Houston and it didn't do nearly this much damage! If the area cant even handle a Cat 1 storm now, whats going to happen when another strong Cat 3 or greater storm strikes this area? Better think about it!

[@jasonrag1318]

So wonderful to see that in an area known for tornadoes and hurricanes they keep rebuilding infrastructure that cannot withstand wind...meanwhile in Boston their lines are buried underground...hmmmmm

[@michaelellringer5600]

I'm surprised people aren't moving out of Houston in droves, or perhaps they can't afford to!

[@MISSAPRILx3]

It's more expensive elsewhere and we have no state taxes

[@suzyseaweed9112]

21st century, 3rd world problems.

[@southernwind5660]

So true!

[@tannerheavener7339]

Please fix the electricity tomorrow please we want light!

[@todddanforth8853]

We also learned in 2021 that Ted Cruz will take a foreign vacation when his state is in crisis. Such a great leader. 🤮🤮🤮

[@3dtexan890]

What about Abbott, right now? Where the hell is he? Don't blame this on CRUZ!

[@kanank13]

come on , that has no relevence here. it does matter if Ted had stayed in Texas or went somehere. do you think eveyrthing would have been fixed in a jiff if he had stayed put in Texas? don't indulge in cheap political scapegoating.

[@kanank13]

@@3dtexan890 do you think Abbot is the problem? You think Abbot is taking a break from fixing the electrical system and drinking beer soemwhere in some bar?

[@damiantoth8577]

Do you need a law written or a senate hearing be held? Because, as a senator, that is all he could do.

[@kimberlynroberts7059]

Yeah he's in Asia. ​@kanank13

[@joezjymnazium77]

Put. The powerrlines. UNDERGROUND!

[@pmp631]

NW Houston....elec utility trucks are sitting for hours in their staging areas. ??? When you call Ctr pnt. They hang up on you when you are just looking for an ETA. Miss a bill pay for a day or two and watch what happens. Corrupt business in corrupt H town.

[@pmp631]

H town is now bankrupt from the years of the sanctuary city elites mis managing,-- example Lina Hidalgo.....what a mess

[@MISSAPRILx3]

The trucks can't move until they're told to move. Blame whoever is above them

[@Max_Maximus_69]

Centerpoint Energy spends the least on removing vegetation around power lines, its the #1 issue on why a million plus are without power

[@deusbeowulf6039]

Texas “We want our own power grid! F the government!” Also Texas “Where is the government at a time like this!??!”

[@coleengoodell7523]

Yep. After the freeze situation, we in Louisiana saw a new charge on our power bills that would be monthly and costly to each and every customer here. It was to pay for the improvements to the Texas! power situation and the loses they'd incurred. I was FN furious! They don't want to join us, but they want us to pay for their problems. Nope.

[@deusbeowulf6039]

@@coleengoodell7523 Yea, does not make any sense. Deal with your own state issues if you can't play nice with others lol.

[@laylaemoody]

Umm, we didn't get a vote in wanting our own power grid so educate yourself!

[@michealjordan5411]

So much for EVs

[@VoteForBukele]

You misspelled Michael.

[@bobbyevans1668]

I’m in the middle of this mess, 2million service drops out.. people it will take time to fix. Texas being off the national grid has nothing to do with this issue. It’s a local one

[@allthingsnu4673]

I live in Houston and there were also lots of trees that fell on power lines, causing them to break.

[@paulsaragosa371]

Women's don't need a man z indefinitely

[@dpharr100]

Buy a generator and you don't have to worry about things like this

[@jaklinhyde]

I wonder how the ppl with solar panels fairing

[@racebannon96]

Until you run out of gasoline

[@datguyomglol]

When most people talk about generators down here they are talking about the ones hooked up to the houses natural gas line. The small petrol powered ones can’t run an entire house.

[@MISSAPRILx3]

Many Americans live paycheck to paycheck and don't have money to keep buying fuel

[@coleengoodell7523]

Looks like a lot of trucks sitting in a parking lot that should be out working. Perhaps it's a labor shortage. Lot's of trucks, no workers.

[@justmejenny7986]

Still shortage of workers everywhere. Instead of immigrants being detained; vet them and get them into the workforce. We need police officers, military, teachers, nurses. Train them.

[@MISSAPRILx3]

​​@@justmejenny7986no illegals are being detained. They come over here and we ask them where they want to go and we take them to their destination. They get free money and hotels...

[@darrtrubb]

Clearly, Texans aren’t accustomed to dealing with hurricane aftermath. I lived in Florida for 27 years (Tampa Bay) and remember some years ago going without electricity for 5 days after receiving a glance blow from a hurricane. It was absolutely miserable and frustrating. It also got me thinking. I had to sit down and think that if just a glancing blow from a hurricane could result in such misery, what would we be facing from a direct hit from a Category 4 or 5 hurricane, which is now the new norm for hurricanes in the climate change era. Fast forward to today and I am now living once again in New England as of a week and a half ago. People living in hurricane prone areas today are going to have to make similar decisions or face the type of destruction that Hurricanes Maria and Katrina wrought on Puerto Rico and New Orleans respectively.

[@paulsaragosa371]

Commercials plumbers and the suffering electricity

[@mopthermopther]

people are DYING (loud hysterical voice)

[@dpharr100]

When the wind blows it knocks down trees which knocked down power lines This is not a new thing

[@ZackryRose]

Unique is a nice way to say it.

[@prilep5]

If you have Tesla car in Texas you need Tesla roof too

[@YupKim1]

Another misdirected sensational journalism. When trees fall and known down power lines to an area, it does not matter what Power Grid is. It is a distribution and tributary problem, not Power Grid. It is different from reduced capability to generate and deliver power due to freeze or otherwise; when grid system play roles.

[@deeplife9654]

It is 2 million, not one million customers

[@user-im5jv1us1l]

renew DL ,waiting three months or more. In TX things seem slow to government point of view.

[@joulevette22]

It seems to me the higher ups still haven't learned yet what happened after Ike and the snow storm just because we don't get major storms often as Florida and Louisiana doesn't mean we aren't also exempt from those issues as well Getting blackouts from a regular thunderstorm giving out devastating upcoming big storms problems 😡

[@im4udevco]

Things are definitely not going to get better for the next storm. We also refuse to change our ways of polluting the environment. It’s going to be the new normal.

[@tabo01]

"unique" electrical grid..

[@KB-ip8ld]

Maybe they should bury the power lines so many don’t go down

[@654Bearcub]

Both Hurricane Irma and Ian 11 days for us with no power in Florida. I lost my house during Ian and still forced to pay mortgage too

[@otto2579]

Hopefully everyone was able to stock up on voltage to power all there electric cars and fridges..... cause we cant use gas powered equipment in a few years....

[@jjohn713]

Here's a novel idea. A natural disaster occurs and is usually predicted to happen annually. How about preparing for it? Either you hunker down and have what you need to survive or evacuate.

[@MrHoustonmichael]

Put power generators at libraries so next time people can get comm up faster

[@paulsaragosa371]

Pipes frozen solid

[@todddanforth8853]

Call Ted Cruz!!!

[@3dtexan890]

All doubletalk!

[@richellescott4308]

I wish I would give this video a thumbs 👍. It didn't nearly touch on the real issues!!! Cover up!!!

[@niqhtt]

Texas "unique" = SPED

[@dpharr100]

There's no such thing as a climate reporter.

[@keijulkyl]

Trees

[@37Raffaella]

You get what you vote for! 🤔

[@Rusty1972]

Sorry people. BUT …. How long has people say prepare for power outages. I was out of power for a week cause of wildfires. You have to take care of yourself. Don’t rely on someone to help you. Get a generator or some Solor panels Be prepared. In this day and age we reply on electricity for everything, so why would you not be prepared?

[@Luckyrider1958]

OK, now lets recharge all those electric cars who's batteries died.. um.. uh...

[@VoteForBukele]

You need Ritalin.

[@DeborahAllen-gt2ic]

Lord shaking up the whole world.😮

[@maryjackson1194]

Guys...it was one debate. He's old. You're sounding agist. Harris is also well-qualified; vote for Biden and, worst case, you'll get his whole team and Harris. Vote Blue all the way to ensure that the third and fourth in line for the presidency are all Democrats!

[@40acresandatractor]

So the citizens there didn't learn their lesson from the Polar Vortex🤦🏽‍♂️

[@pindapoy1596]

@40acresandatractor The power of monopolies against citizens. Citizens have nothing to say.

[@40acresandatractor]

@@pindapoy1596 You don't have to tell me, I'm Black American🤷🏽‍♂️

[@ledwallet1944]

@@40acresandatractor No your not! You're a victim!!!

[@40acresandatractor]

@@ledwallet1944 Says the no face coward account🫡 Can't make this ish up🤣🤣

[@pindapoy1596]

@@40acresandatractor I answered in general, I do not care about skin color but I respect everybody without exception.

[@ginab1687]

I’m sitting here without power for 5 days I’m hot its horrible it’s like 100 degrees