Startling satellite images show how Hurricane Beryl knocked out power in Houston

As most of Houston begins to regain power after Hurricane Beryl roared through the city, dramatic satellite images show the crippling impact the storm has had.

Images captured by a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite show the effects Beryl had on the city’s power grid.

The before photo was taken during the night June 9, and the after image was taken July 9 after the historic hurricane made landfall in Texas.

“This image was captured by the Day/Night Band on the NOAA-21 satellite’s VIIRS instrument, which scans the entire earth twice per day at a 750-meter resolution,” NOAA said. “Multiple visible and infrared channels allow it to detect atmospheric aerosols, such as dust, smoke and haze associated with industrial pollution and fires.”

Hurricane Beryl crushed trees and toppled power lines, causing power to be knocked out of 2.7 million homes and businesses in the Houston area, according to USA Today. The Associated Press reported 10 transmission lines were toppled.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has blasted CenterPoint Energy and has attempted to deter blame for the power grid failure. He has demanded the utilities company to “take immediate action to improve their hurricane preparation and response efforts.”

“The lack of power provided by CenterPoint compromises our No. 1 goal: protecting life,” he said in a statement.

Power had been restored to 92% of CenterPoint customers by Monday, July 15, KPRC reported. The company expects power for all customers to be restored by Friday.

Thousands of additional workers were brought in by CenterPoint to help the restoration efforts, according to the AP. But some of the utility workers have been met with threats by the frustrated Houston-area residents, McClatchy News reported.

This story was originally published July 16, 2024 at 7:27 AM with the headline "Startling satellite images show how Hurricane Beryl knocked out power in Houston."