At least 600,000 people in Northern Texas were left without power due to violent gusts of wind last Tuesday, May 28th. These shortages are expected to last for several days as locals grapple with the powerful storm wreaking havoc across multiple Texas counties.
Collapsed buildings, fallen trees, and debris are seen everywhere as hurricane-force winds battered Dallas last Tuesday, May 28, 2024. The storm later upended Houston when the calamity reached the city in the afternoon. A record level of almost 80 mph wind gusts was reported at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Eyewitness accounts stipulate that the winds were powerful enough to move a parked airplane.
With more than half a million people without power, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins issued a disaster declaration. Denton, Kauffman, and Rockwell counties followed the same given the unprecedented levels of damage that these places have sustained.
This storm system is forecasted to last up to Wednesday morning, causing strong high winds, local floods, and the possibility of hails.
Emergency Advisory For Locals
Residents were warned by Dallas emergency management to remain vigilant and steer clear of any downed power lines to avoid getting accidentally electrocuted. They added that locals should also avoid fallen trees as they may be hiding downed power lines that can have live wires.
Households that use portable generators were advised to avoid using them in enclosed spaces like garages or inside the house. The enclosed space will prevent proper air ventilation and could lead to a buildup of carbon monoxide, which can be poisonous if inhaled for a prolonged period.
Grant Cruise, a representative from Oncor Electric Delivery, instructed residents to “stay off the roads, our crews need room to work”. He added, “If you have to get on the road, give those folks a wide berth and make sure you’re paying attention to their safety and yours as well.”
When Will The Power Be Restored In Texas?
Oncor teams have been restoring electricity to thousands of households since Tuesday morning. However, only 50% of the affected families have had their power lines restored. In an update by Oncor, they said:
“Oncor personnel are continuing to work around the clock to restore power to customers impacted by Tuesday morning’s severe storms. In less than 24 hours, we have restored power for more than 340,000 customers. Nearly 5,000 additional personnel and mutual assistance have been deployed to support these efforts from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina and Virginia.”
Furthermore, they stated, “We estimate that restoration will be substantially complete by Friday evening, weather permitting. Harder hit areas are expected to be restored Saturday.”
Call For Donations And County Updates
Valley View City in Cooke County announced that a shelter has been set up in collaboration with the Red Cross. The shelter is located at First Baptist Church, 503 N. Lee St, Valley View. They also announced that meals will be given at United Methodist Church, 201 Church St. Donations can be made to the church according to Pastor Beata Hall, or to a relief fund organized by the Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster in First United Bank in Gainesville.
Celina City in Collin County announced that donations can be dropped at Grace Bridge, 402 S. Oklahoma St, Celina from 9 am to 11 am on Monday. They highlighted that locals are in need of potable water, Gatorade, trash bags, gloves, and cleaning supplies. Monetary donations were recommended to be forwarded to the Red Cross or Minuteman Disaster Response.
The Denton County Office of Emergency Management encouraged donations to be made to the United Way of Denton County, a non-profit organization in Denton, Texas.
Locals who are affected by these severe storms were advised to reach out and apply for disaster assistance through this link. They can also apply for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
