The good news is that for many of you, the lights are back, and so is the heat. The bad news is that when one problem gets resolved, another one seems to pop up as Texas continues to deal with a deep freeze.
Let's start with the positive; CenterPoint says they are down to 45--thousand without power this morning. Jeff Lindner with the Harris County Flood Control District told Houston's Morning News it's a major step in the right direction.
"It's a tremendous amount of restoration has happened overnight as generation plants have come back online," Lindner said.
It's not enough to satisfy lawmakers like State Senator Paul Bettencourt.
"The legislature is as enraged as the public is. We are not going to put up with this anymore. There will be changes or serious consequences," Bettencourt said
And in Galveston County, Judge Mark Henry, who told us yesterday the city of Galveston was out of water, says power is coming back. But he wants more than just answers.
"For each people that passed away from having their power turned off, I am referring them to the Galveston County District Attorney's office," Henry talks Jimmy Barrett and Shara Fryer. "Somebody should be held criminally responsible for what they have done to these people."
ELSEWHERE:
- The death toll from the weather - that we know of - is at least 24 and will likely rise.
- The Public Utility Commission of Texas has passed a new rule saying that power companies like CenterPoint cannot turn your power off for more than 12 hours at a time. That rule goes into effect immediately.
- The city of Houston still has a boil water but that could end today. A complete list of locations with boil water notices is HERE.
- The airports are still open but they say you should check before you head out there. They have been impacted by the boil water notice - their water supply is low.
- Grocery stories are open, but you've had problem finding basics. Joe Kelly with Kroger told our TV partner Channel 2 he hopes that gets better this morning. "We have full deliveries going to the stores tonight, and any water that we have is also going to the stores, "Kelly stated.
- Gas prices also impacted - the storm knocked 20% of the nation’s refineries offline, including nearly a dozen in Texas. Prices already have gone up by 10% to an average of $2.19 a gallon.
- Most school districts in the area are closed today and tomorrow. We have the entire list for you HERE.