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Texas braces for possible double storm hit

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By Arthur Murray August 24th, 2020
2 min read

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(August 24, 2020)

Two major storms are threatening power outages in Texas.

Two storms headed through the Gulf of Mexico threatened Texas Monday morning, with Tropical Storm Laura expected to make landfall this week – possibly as a hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center. Experts predict Laura will hit the northwest Gulf Coast – including Houston – as a Category 2 hurricane, bringing with it 105-mph winds, storm surge, and heavy rainfall.

While Laura poses the greatest threat so far, the other storm, Hurricane Marco, could stay offshore today, the center said. Gov. Greg Abbott has declared a state of disaster for 23 Texas counties, including Galveston and Harris.

“As Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura approach Texas, the state is taking necessary precautions to protect our communities and keep Texans safe,” Abbott said as part of the declaration. “I urge Texans in the path of these storms to plan ahead and heed the guidance of their local officials.” That guidance could include evacuation orders.

Emergency Preparedness for Senior Citizens and Their Caregivers

How to manage the threat from the storms

In preparation for the approach of Laura and Marco, it’s important for residents to make sure they have key necessities on hand, including:

  • Bottled water
  • A fully fueled vehicle
  • Cash
  • Flashlights and batteries
  • Any needed medicine

What happens if my power goes out?

If the storms generate flooding and/or high winds, it could result in power outages for large areas of Texas. When that happens, you should contact your utility – not your provider – using the following methods:

AEP Texas Central

  • Outage phone number: 1-877-373-4858

CenterPoint

  • To report a power outage, call 1-713-207-2222 or 1-800-332-7143. Click hereto check power outage status.

Oncor

  • Report an Outage
    • Click here or call 24/7 at 1-888-313-4747
  • Report a Downed Power Line
    • To report a downed power line, call 911or 1-888-313-4747
  • Power Outage Map
    • 24/7 outage map can be found here.

AEP Texas North

  • To report a power outage or check outage status, click here.

Texas-New Mexico Power

  • Outage phone number: 1-888-866-7456

Key takeaways

  • Two storms are approaching Texas
  • Monitor the approaches on the National Weather Service’s Houston account
  • Make sure you have supplies on hand
  • If the power goes, contact your utility

 

Arthur Murray directs content strategy for ChooseEnergy.com, taking advantage of more than 20 years of newspaper and magazine experience. His articles have appeared on Zillow.com, Business.com, Nasdaq.com, and USNews.com, among others. Reach out to us with any questions or concerns. 

[Triff]/Shutterstock