Hurricane Beryl aftermath in Houston: Thousands without power scramble to find generators due to high temperatures

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The signs are the same at every hardware store in Houston: no generators, no propane.

“We have the windows open. We have the doors open. My grandkids are running around. We sit outside to get some cool air, but it’s really hot,” Rene Ramirez told ABC13.

Ramirez said he went to four stores trying to find a generator.

More than 1.5 million Houston residents were still without power Tuesday, the day after Hurricane Beryl struck.

“With generators, especially whole-house generators, it used to be what you would call a luxury item, but here in Houston it’s a necessity,” said David Koster of Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning, and Electrical.

The company has set up an office in a hotel in northwest Houston. The company and most employees are also without power, and calls are only expected to increase this week.

“I think the real test is that when the power starts to come back on, we always see an increase in calls because things are going wrong that we’re not aware of, and then they increase, and all of those factors come into play,” he said.

Preparation is essential for extreme weather. Home generators cost thousands of dollars and can take months to install and obtain permits.

You can find a portable generator for a few hundred dollars, but to avoid fires or electrical shock, you’ll still need an electrician to set it up with your electrical panel.

“We have to install what’s called an interlock on your panel and then also an input where you can plug in the portable generator,” Koster said.

In Houston, shelves will likely be stocked again by next week.

“I can’t find anything. It’s hard, but you have to keep going. You can’t give up,” Ramirez said.

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