Indian Consulate Helps Houston Students Amid Power Outage After Hurricane Beryl

Houston: The Indian Mission here in the US state of Texas is helping hundreds of students across the country who are badly affected by widespread power outages following the devastation of Hurricane Beryl.

Nearly a million homes and businesses remain without essential services, plunging life into uncertainty due to the hurricane’s impact.

The Category 1 storm, although the weakest, left nearly 2.7 million customers without power after making landfall in Texas on Monday, according to US media reports.

Indian Consul General DC Manjunath personally visited local educational institutions, including the University of Houston, to assess the welfare of Indian students amid the disaster. Despite the challenges posed by the hurricane, the consulate continued to provide consular services, providing emergency supplies and support.

Reflecting on the situation, Consul General Manjunath emphasized, “None of us are immune to nature’s fury. As Houston authorities work tirelessly to restore power, we are committed to helping Indian students by providing them with essential supplies during this difficult time.” He also expressed gratitude to local Indian community organizations such as SEWA, BAPS, and VPSS for their tireless efforts to support the community during this crisis.

The resilience of Houstonians is being tested as frustrations boil over among the millions still dealing with Beryl’s aftermath.

CenterPoint Energy reports that about 860,000 customers are still without power, despite service being restored to more than 1.4 million people since the hurricane. The struggle continues for many residents who endured a week without power, forced to throw away spoiled food and cope with precarious living conditions in the scorching heat.

The toll from Hurricane Beryl is staggering, with at least 11 deaths in the United States and nine in the Caribbean, including three in Houston due to extreme heat compounded by prolonged power outages.

Residents in hard-hit areas, such as Flamingo Island in Fort Bend County, have resorted to desperate measures, sleeping in cars or seeking shelter in scarce hotel rooms as their homes remain uninhabitable.

In a glimmer of hope, Fort Bend County Judge KP George of Indian descent announced the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) approval for individual disaster assistance, providing much-needed relief to residents facing immense hardship.

As temperatures soar, the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the Houston area, compounding the hardships faced by those suffering the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl without basic utilities. Local officials and nonprofits have opened cooling centers to provide respite for vulnerable residents struggling with the sweltering heat.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s call for an investigation into CenterPoint’s response reflects growing public anger and frustration with the company’s handling of the crisis. Vulnerable populations, including those who rely on refrigerated medications, continue to suffer disproportionately amid the ongoing chaos.

The resilience and unity of the Houston community are tested in the aftermath of Beryl, highlighting both the strength and vulnerabilities of a city grappling with a disaster of unprecedented scale.

The aftermath of Hurricane Beryl has pushed Houston residents to their limits. Some have sought shelter in hotels, while others are living in unbearable conditions in their homes or vehicles. Emergency departments are overwhelmed and dealing with a surge in heat-related emergencies, while hospitals are struggling to cope with backup generators.