Are Texans ready for hurricanes? This article explores their preparedness, experiences, and frustrations in the wake of Hurricane Beryl, as well as their comfort level in facing future storms.
Our recent survey highlights the areas where Texans felt prepared and where improvements are still needed. We’ll discuss power outage statistics, the effectiveness of various information sources, and emotional responses to the storm. This study provides a snapshot of Texans’ current hurricane preparedness and offers insights into how safety and information dissemination can be improved for future events.
“Being able to present Texans with short-term infrastructure patching and long-term strategies lies at the core of mitigating risks in the future. Modernizing grids is key to preventing outages and shielding communities from calamities.
Preparation at the individual, community, and state levels can greatly lessen the impact of future hurricanes on our power supply. Resiliency building within our power infrastructure requires proper contributions from utility companies, government agencies, and members of the general public. With these steps and a culture of preparedness, Texans can be better positioned to weather the next hurricane and ensure that the lights stay on when the next natural disaster hits our state.” – Brandon Young, CEO of Payless Power
Key Takeaways
- Nearly half of Texans (49%) weren’t prepared for Hurricane Beryl.
- 38% of Texans lost power after Hurricane Beryl, with nearly 1 in 6 (15%) experiencing outages lasting at least a week.
- Nearly 1 in 5 Texans (18%) plan to spend $500 or more to prepare for future hurricanes, and an additional 15% are willing to spend as much as needed.
- 53% of Texans rate CenterPoint’s response to the outages during Hurricane Beryl as either “unacceptable” or “poor.”
- 19% of Texans turned to the Whataburger app for updates and information during the hurricane, and 56% found it frustrating to rely on a fast food chain app for such crucial information.
Power Loss During Hurricane Beryl
- Nearly 1 in 6 (15%) experienced outages lasting at least one week. People in Houston (17%) were the most likely to report this.
- How many days Texans were without power:
- 1-2 days: 26%
- 3-4 days: 37%
- 5-6 days: 21%
- 1 week or more: 15%
- What Texans plan to do to stay safe during future storms:
- Stock up on non-perishables and food (76%)
- Have a backup battery or other way to keep their cell phones charged (72%)
- Prepare an emergency kit (65%)
- Invest in a generator (51%)
- Ensure pets/farm animals are safe (51%)
- Keep important documents in waterproof containers (49%)
- Sign up for official weather alerts (48%)
- 1 in 16 Texans intend to change electric power providers to stay safe during future storms.
Texans Seek Better Storm Information Sources
- Since CenterPoint didn’t have an app with a power outage map, 19% of Texans turned to the Whataburger app for outage updates. It showed which locations were open (had power) and which were closed (had no power) in the Houston area. Over half (56%) found it frustrating to rely on a fast food chain app for such crucial information.
- Emotions Texans are currently feeling in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl:
- Frustration (45%)
- Anxiety (35%)
- Worry (34%)
- Relief (31%)
- Anger (24%)
- Sadness (22%)
- Gratitude (21%)
- Helplessness (19%)
- Fear (16%)
- Indifference (15%)
Methodology
For this campaign, we surveyed 1,025 Texans to explore their sentiments and experiences during Hurricane Beryl. The survey was conducted from July 25-28, 2024.
About Payless Power
Payless Power is a Texas energy provider that believes in making electricity accessible to all, regardless of credit history. We offer flexible, prepaid, and traditional energy plans with competitive pricing and no credit checks, empowering Texans to take control of their energy costs.
Fair Use Statement
Feel free to use these findings in your noncommercial projects. Please cite our work with a hyperlink.
