Apartment complex left without power or water for a week straight

HOUSTON – It’s been a long, hot and miserable week for many in the Houston area.

Last Thursday, an outbreak of severe weather in the region left more than a million people without power. A week later, tens of thousands of people remain helpless in the stifling heat of Houston.

Among them are residents of the Durham Heights apartments in Houston Heights. They have been without electricity, water and sewage since last week.

“We have a warning sign because it gets really dark at night,” said Kira Brown, as she walked through the near-black hallways leading to her apartment.

The only light she had was the small flashlight on her iPhone.

Until Wednesday, there were no lights in the corridors. Then Wednesday evening, the emergency exit lights came on.

Kira and the several hundred other residents hoped to have power restored soon.

“And then, disappointment,” she said.

Power came, but not in the way they hoped. Only certain things would work. Devices that were working were not working properly.

His ceiling fan moved slowly, the outlets made a clicking noise, and his refrigerator had the lights on but no cool air.

Needless to say, his air conditioning never worked either.

Kira: “It’s hot, like you’re here and I’m sweating.”

Gauge: “What do you think the temperature is here?”

Kira: “I’d probably say 86 degrees?

Gauge: “Almost 85,84,9?”

Two floors up in Opal Francis’ apartment, it’s the same.

Gauge: “Look at that 87.2°F on your bed.”

Opal: “It really makes me want to sleep.”

Gauge: “Could you survive a night here.”

Opal: “I don’t think so. I couldn’t. I tried the first night, and it just wasn’t possible.

The entire apartment complex is without running water or sewer. According to Kira and Opal, the apartment’s water supply is powered by an electric pump, which has no electricity.

CenterPoint Energy took responsibility.

While the rest of the area has been reconnected to the grid, a large green transformer outside the apartment complex is the culprit.

A CenterPoint representative said the transformer should be replaced and the apartment complex should have power on Thursday at 8 p.m.