Millions of homes and businesses in Texas remain without power five days after Hurricane Beryl made landfall. The storm, which brought fierce winds and heavy rain, caused widespread damage to power infrastructure. CenterPoint Energy, the largest provider, reported about 870,000 customers still affected, while Utility Entergy has restored power to approximately 162,800 of its customers.
Residents are facing extreme heat, with the heat index topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit in Houston. The prolonged outages have forced businesses to close, spoiled groceries, and left many without essential services. As temperatures soar, residents are struggling to find relief, with hotels and vacation rentals scarce.
The storm’s impact extends beyond power outages, causing disruptions to various industries. Freeport LNG, the third-largest liquefied natural gas facility in the U.S., remains offline. Chemical companies, including Dow, Olin, and BASF, have reported production disruptions and force majeure declarations.
While ports have largely resumed operations, concerns remain about the potential for future storms. Experts are predicting a more active hurricane season this year, raising questions about the region’s preparedness for such events.