HOUSTON – From now on, people in Northeast Houston will have a place to charge their phones, borrow portable power stations and pick up ice to keep their food from spoiling in case of an emergency.
Reliant Energy and Houston Habitat for Humanity unveiled a fully functioning resiliency hub in the Robins Landing neighborhood on Friday.
“Our neighbors told us they wanted a place that felt safe. A place that they could count on when disaster strikes, and a place here in Northeast Houston,” said Allison Hay, CEO of Houston Habitat for Humanity.
Lisa McWashington lives next door to the hub, which was converted from a Houston Habitat model home. Reliant Energy donated $50,000 to add solar panels, portable power stations, cell phone chargers, an ice machine, and a large freezer to the facility.
“It’s wonderful,” said McWashington.
McWashington said the hub brings her some relief; if her home loses electricity during a storm, she can literally walk to the house next door and borrow a portable power station to keep her daughter’s medical devices running.
“Ashley’s blind, she’s in a wheelchair. She’s 36 years old and she has cerebral palsy. She has a curved spine and [gets] seizures,” said McWashington.
McWashington’s daughter often uses a nebulizer and wears an electric vest to prevent a pneumonia infection.
The hub, located at 8811 Robins Landing, will be available for Northeast Houston residents during future emergencies.
The neighborhood is in the 77078-ZIP code, one of the communities that suffered the most destruction during Hurricane Harvey.
McWashington doesn’t want to relive another days-long power outage without basic necessities, but if there is an emergency, she’s relieved she can count on the resiliency hub.
“I’m ready for it,” said McWashington.