HOUSTON, Texas — KHOU 11 News watched CenterPoint Energy contractors, including some from as far away as Alabama, roll out from Katy Mills Mall Tuesday morning.
Others were staged at two nearby football stadiums as many customers anxiously awaited their arrival in their neighborhoods all over the Houston area.
“I pray they come today,” said Ana Alvarez, Spring Branch resident.
She told us it can’t hurt asking a higher power, for power.
"It’s very hot, very hot inside the house,” said Alvarez.
She showed KHOU 11 News crews around with a battery-operated lantern. Her freezer was already cleaned out.
"Threw away the food, no good,” said Alvarez.
She lost power first thing Monday morning as Beryl pushed through the region.
“Five o’clock in the morning," said Alvarez. "No light, bye bye.”
This outage, thanks to Beryl, is the second blow in as many months for Alvarez and many others following widespread power losses caused by the derecho windstorm on May 16.
"Eight days, no light in my house," said Alvarez about May's storm.
Ironically, the other side of her street has power. So, she was hopeful it wouldn’t be nearly that long this time.
We also heard from customers without power who rely on oxygen machines and other medical equipment.
That includes 84-year-old retired NASA employee Jerry Bell.
"I want power," said Bell. "Simply power."
His daughter reported their outage immediately early Monday morning.
Unfortunately, he said they've already had to throw out food delivered last week by Meals on Wheels.
“It’s tough sometimes because my daughter gets tired too and there’s not much I can do," said Bell. "So, it’s frustrating."
Something only made worse by the hot weather.