Houston storm aftermath: businesses recovering from power outages

HOUSTON — Small businesses in the Houston area were hit hard by the storm, and multi-day power outages were another blow. Now that the lights have come back on, businesses are working hard to make up for what they lost.

Getting back to normal will be a struggle for many.

“We were completely without power for 4 days,” said Van Teamer, the owner of Pudgy’s Fine Cookies.

Power is finally restored to Pudgy’s Fine Cookies. He returned Monday evening. They spent Tuesday cleaning up and getting ready to open their doors.

“We’re trying to get back to it now,” Teamer said.

For the first time since Thursday’s devastating storm, they are open for business again.

“All of these were full,” Teamer said, showing us his now-empty freezers.

Teamer said the days-long power outage quickly wiped out its product inventory and ingredient supply.

“It was really moving to know how much hard work went into making the products and throwing them away,” Teamer said.

They threw out 12,000 cookies of raw cookie dough, more than 2,000 eggs and cases and cases of butter. If it was dairy, it had to go.

“For me, I knew I was going to take a hit,” Teamer said. “The funds are not coming in, but a lot is going out.”

They have managed to restock and the kitchen is slowly starting to produce cookies. For now, only half of his creations are on the limited menu. They cannot yet earn enough to fulfill bulk orders.

“We’re just trying to catch up,” Teamer said.

Teamer knows she’s not alone. Underground Creamery is also slowly starting to make ice cream. Walk-in orders will take a few days to restock. Recovery is a process.

“People will have to take out loans because insurance won’t cover everything,” Teamer said. “This will be a big blow to small businesses that are still without power.”

Several shopping centers and restaurants in the Heights remain in the dark. At Pudgy’s, they’re taking it one cookie at a time and hoping the community will do what they always do: support each other after a disaster.

“It’s going to be tough, but we’re going to get through this,” Teamer said.

On Thursday morning, the Small Business Administration will provide new details on assistance available to business owners dealing with the aftermath of the storm at a news conference at 10:30 a.m.

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