HOUSTON – It’s been a long, hot and miserable week for many across the Houston area.
Last Thursday, a severe weather outbreak across the region left more than a million people without electricity. Fast forward one week, and there are still tens of thousands of people left powerless in the sweltering Houston heat.
Of those are the residents of Durham Heights Apartments in Houston Heights. They’ve been without electricity, water and sewage since last week.
“We have a caution sign because it’s so dark at night,” Kira Brown said, as she walked through the nearly pitch-black halls leading to her apartment.
The only light she had was the small flashlight on her iPhone.
Up until Wednesday, there was zero light in the hallways. Then on Wednesday evening, the exit emergency lights turned on.
Kira and the several hundred other residents were hopeful they’d get power back soon.
“And then, disappointment,” she said.
The power came, but not like they were expecting. Only certain things would work. The appliances that did work weren’t working the right way.
Her ceiling fan was moving slowly, the outlets were making a clicking noise and her refrigerator had the lights on, but no cool air.
It’s needless to say her air conditioning never made it on either.
Kira: “It’s like, hot, like you’re in here and I’m sweating.”
Gage: “What do you think the temperature is in here?
Kira: “I would probably say like, 86 degrees?”
Gage: “Almost 85. 84.9?”
Two floors up in Opal Francis’ apartment, it’s the same.
Gage: “Look at that 87.2°F on your bed.”
Opal: “That really makes me want to go to sleep.”
Gage: “Could you survive a night in here.”
Opal: “I don’t think so. I haven’t been able to. I tried the first night, and it just wasn’t possible.”
The entire apartment complex is without running water and sewage. According to both Kira and Opal, the apartment’s water supply is powered by an electrical pump—which doesn’t have any power.
CenterPoint Energy has taken the blame.
While the rest of the area was put back on the grid, a big green transformer outside of the apartment complex is to blame.
A CenterPoint representative says the transformer should be replaced and the apartment complex should have power by 8 p.m. on Thursday.