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Cooling centers, water & ice distribution, local and federal assistance available for those impacted by severe storm

Indira Zaldivar
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Cooling centers, water & ice distribution, local and federal assistance available for those impacted by severe storm

By Indira Zaldivar & Edward Saenz

Federal Assistance and Local Resources Available Following Southeast Texas Storms

On Friday, President Joe Biden declared the recent severe weather events in Southeast Texas as a major disaster, unlocking federal funding for recovery efforts in the region. This declaration will aid state and local recovery efforts in areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding that began on April 26, 2024.

Federal aid can be utilized for temporary housing, home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to assist individuals and business owners in their recovery. FEMA will coordinate the federal response, and those affected can apply for assistance online, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or through the FEMA app.

As Harris County continues to recover from the recent extreme weather, various agencies are stepping up to provide assistance. Below is a list of resources currently available:

General Information

  • Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can cause heat exhaustion or heat stroke. For tips on staying cool, visit: Houston Emergency – Extreme Heat Tips
  • Never operate a generator indoors. If you smell gas, evacuate immediately and report to CenterPoint at 713-659-2111.
  • Report water leaks, loss of water services, fallen trees, or malfunctioning traffic lights by calling 311 or 713-837-0311.
  • Houston Public Works assures that drinking water operations are unaffected and safe to drink. Report any water service issues to 311 or 713-837-0311.
  • For further assistance, call 346-286-2125. Stay updated via Ready Harris.

Cooling Centers from the City of Houston

  • Metropolitan Multi-Service Center at W. Gray: 1745 W. Gray St., Houston, TX 77019. Open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Acres Homes Multi-Service Center: 6719 W. Montgomery Rd., Houston, TX 77091. Open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Sunnyside Health and Multi-Service Center: 4410 Reed Rd., Houston, TX 77051. Open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Kingwood Community Center: 4102 Rustic Woods, Kingwood, TX 77345. Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Woodlands Community Center: 212 Parkview St., Houston, TX 77009. Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Water & Ice Distribution Points

  • Fifth Ward Multi-Service Center: 4014 Market St., Houston, TX 77020. Open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Salvation Army: 12507 Windfern Rd., Houston, TX 77064. Open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Salvation Army: 4026 N. Interwood, Houston, TX 77032. Open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Additional Cooling Centers in Harris County
25 locations across Harris County are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. this weekend. Locations include:

  • Aldine Branch Library: 11331 Airline Drive, Houston, TX 77037
  • Atascocita Branch Library: 19520 Pinehurst Trail Drive, Humble, TX 77346
  • Bayland Community Center : 6400 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX, 77074 (open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
  • Bellaire Public Library: 5111 Jessamine, Bellaire, TX 77401
  • Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library: 16616 Diana Lane, Houston, TX 77062
  • Kingwood Branch Library: 4400 Bens View Lane, Kingwood, TX 77339
  • Tracey Gee Community Center: 3599 Westcenter Dr, Houston, TX 77042   (open 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. )

Cooling, Charging, and Food/Water Distribution Center from Harris County Precint 4

Bayland Community Center 

  • Saturday, May 18 & Sunday, May 19 
  • 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. 
  • 2:30 p.m. – Food Distribution 

Cooling and Charging Center 

Tracey Gee Community Center  

  • Saturday, May 18 & Sunday, May 19 
  • 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. 

Food/Water Distribution Centers  

Radack Community Center 

  • Saturday, May 18 
  • 10 a.m. – Ice & Water Distribution  
  • 2:30 p.m. – Food Distribution 

Weekley Community Center 

  • Saturday, May 18 
  • 2:30 p.m. – Food Distribution

High-Risk Individuals
For those needing power for medical devices, call 911 and ensure they are registered with the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR).

Managing Wastewater Post-Storm

  • Minimize water usage to reduce strain on the wastewater system.
  • Prepare for potential backups and use protective gear when handling wastewater.
  • Avoid contact with contaminated water in the event of a wastewater overflow.

Stay informed and safe as recovery efforts continue.

Storm recovery in Houston: CenterPoint works to restore power to half a million customers as temps are expected to rise

Michael Esparza
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Storm recovery in Houston: CenterPoint works to restore power to half a million customers as temps are expected to rise

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — The Houston area is on the mend following devastating storms that battered the city on Thursday. However, many are still without power as temperatures are expected to reach the high 90s on Saturday.

ABC13’s Lileana Pearson was out in the Heights to survey what city officials are doing as residents wake up for a second day without air conditioning and a spoiled fridge.

Some homes had lights on and operating through a generator down Heights Boulevard.

It has been reported that nearly half a million customers across Harris County have yet to have their electricity turned back on.

CenterPoint Energy sent an email on Friday saying they have restored almost 300,000 people, but the outage tracker shows that 520,000 are without power.

Currently, CenterPoint said their primary focus is on homes and businesses. In a post on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, the company said workers were out before sunrise to continue repair work.

Power in some communities is expected to be out through the weekend, with the worst-hit places, such as Cypress, being out untilearly next week.

In response to power outages and temperatures expected to reach the high 90s, several cooling centers are operating so people can cooldown, bathe, and charge their electronic devices.

At least 10 people arrived at the West University Recreation Center overnight, but officials say they will expect more as temperatures rise on Saturday.

Several cooling systems will be operating through the weekend. You can find a list here.

For more news updates, follow Lileana Pearson on Facebook, X and Instagram.

4 people dead after storms ripped through Houston, city officials say

ABC13 Houston
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4 people dead after storms ripped through Houston, city officials say

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Up to four people are dead after damaging storms ripped through Houston and surrounding areas Thursday, according to Mayor John Whitmire’s office.

City officials said one of the deaths happened on North Main Street and 610. ABC13’s Shannon Ryan was at that scene, where a tree had toppled over a home.

According to the city, two of the deaths were from fallen trees, while one was from a crane that blew over.

During a late night news conference, Houston Mayor John Whitmire said power and traffic lights are out, urging people against driving at night. In addition, Fire Chief Samuel Pena said the main issues are gas leaks and downed trees and lines.

Whitmire also urged against venturing into downtown, where he called the damage “considerable.”

If you can, stay home Friday, Whitmire told Houstonians.

Outside of the city limits, in Cypress, at least one person was reported to have died in a mobile home fire in the 15700 block of Cypress Meadows Drive. But it’s unclear if the passing storms played a factor in that blaze.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

Hundreds of thousands of CenterPoint Energy customers without electricity following damaging storms

ABC13 Houston
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Hundreds of thousands of CenterPoint Energy customers without electricity following damaging storms

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — More than 700,000 customers were without electricity Friday morning after severe thunderstorms that brought hurricane-force winds barreled through southeast Texas hours earlier.

After the storms passed, CenterPoint Energy confirmed to ABC13 that its downtown building and system had been damaged as a result Thursday.

“As the line of severe weather has made its way through our region, it is now safe for our crews to begin assessing damage but can confirm we’ve experienced significant damage to our system,” the power giant wrote in a statement.

At the time, CenterPoint said restoration efforts had already begun and would ramp up Friday morning.

The strength of the winds can’t be understated.

Some Houston residents told ABC News correspondent Mireya Villarreal that the winds sounded like a freight train coming through.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire drew a comparison to 2008’s Hurricane Ike.

As of Friday at 8 a.m., more than 728,000 customers were without power. Just over 93,000 customers had electricity stored within the past 24 hours.

Outages literally span all over: from downtown Houston to Spring Branch, the east side, including Channelview and Baytown, north around the Cypress area and west, including Katy.

You can keep up with outages and plug in an address using CenterPoint Energy’s outage tracker.

Whitmire warned that the outages are also affecting traffic lights. Power poles are down, and some of them are snapped in half.

If you are traveling in and out of Houston, you can check your flight on the National Airspace System Status.

MORE WEATHER COVERAGE:

Houston-area school and college closings and delays

ABC13 Weather Alert Day: Severe T-Storm Watch issued in SE Texas until 8 p.m.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

Pelican Island bridge is unstable after barge slammed into pillar, causing oil spill, officials say

ABC13 Houston
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Pelican Island bridge is unstable after barge slammed into pillar, causing oil spill, officials say

GALVESTON, Texas (KTRK) — Pelican Island is cut off for a second day after a barge crashed into the causeway on Wednesday — the only way to drive on and off the island.

The Pelican Island Causeway bridge has reopened at times to let some cars exit the island and head to Galveston, though no one was allowed to enter. Officials say it’s unlikely they’ll be able to get back on the island anytime soon.

Now, crews are working to repair the damage and clean up the oil that spilled.

Officials said a barge broke loose from a tug boat just before 10 a.m. Wednesday and crashed into the Pelican Island Causeway.

The impact broke off part of the bridge and caused vacuum gas oil to spill into the water.

The barge reportedly has a capacity of 30,000 gallons, though so far, it’s unclear how much oil leaked.

Officials told ABC13 that two crew members on the ship were either thrown or jumped off, but they were rescued quickly. Emergency management leaders confirmed with ABC13 that there were less than 200 people on the island when the incident happened.

Pelican Island is just north of Galveston and is home to Texas A&M Galveston, Seawolf Park, and the Galveston Naval Museum.

Galveston County Judge Mark Henry said they’ve been trying to get the bridge replaced for about 10 years.

“My concern is that they are going to deem the bridge unusable, which would not be a surprise. It was in bad shape before this accident, and that’s going to cause some significant disruptions to Pelican Island,” Henry said. “People are going to have no real way to get there and back, and with Texas A&M Galveston being there, that’s going to dramatically impact A&M Galveston’s ability to deliver education.”

The campus is closed through Sunday.

About 6.5 miles of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway between marker 350.5 and 357 is closed down because of the oil spill.

As for the bridge itself, there were long lines to get off the island on Wednesday. At one point, crews were only letting one car cross at a time.

There are concerns that once the barge is moved from under the bridge, it will become even more unstable.

The Pelican Island Causeway was constructed in 1960 and was actually set to be replaced in 2025.

The bridge is more than 3,200 feet long and about 164 feet wide.

For more news updates, follow Courtney Carpenter on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

13 Alert Traffic: I-610 East Loop northbound at Ship Channel Bridge shut down after deadly crash

ABC13 Houston
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13 Alert Traffic: I-610 East Loop northbound at Ship Channel Bridge shut down after deadly crash

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Police have closed all northbound lanes of the I-610 East Loop at the Ship Channel Bridge as they investigate a deadly crash Thursday morning.

It happened at about 3 a.m.

Backups have since grown into delays that are at least an hour, going past Highway 225.

If you’re coming in from the La Porte area, for example, you should expect delays as well.

We don’t know yet what caused the crash, but it’s listed on Transtar as a fire that involved one vehicle.

One person was killed.

All northbound traffic on the loop is being forced to exit on Clinton Drive.

You can use the Washburn Tunnel or East Sam Houston Tollway as alternate routes.

ABC13 has real-time traffic data to help you navigate Houston’s roads and avoid traffic delays.

Sign up for traffic alerts that are sent straight to your phone through our ABC13 app. Manage your notifications from the settings tab.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

ABC13 Weather Alert Day today: Threat of heavy rain & severe storms

ABC13 Houston
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ABC13 Weather Alert Day today: Threat of heavy rain & severe storms

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — An ABC13 Weather Alert Day has been declared for Thursday due to the threat of heavy rain and severe storms.

Tropical moisture surging back on Thursday could bring the potential for more heavy downpours and street flooding.

This storm system could bring pretty widespread rain with the highest chances of rain north of I-10. We will be watching for heavy rain and even a few strong to severe storms. Due to the heavy rain potential, areas near and north of I-10 have been placed in a Flood Watch. It starts Thursday at 1 p.m. and will last through 7 a.m. Friday. Two to four inches of rain will be common in this flood watch area, with isolated spots seeing over six inches of rain.

Will the storms bring more flooding and severe weather?

Heavy rain that could flood streets is looking like the primary threat with this round of storms, but there will be a secondary threat of severe weather, too. At this time, we expect one to three inches of rain to be common, with over six inches possible in spots. The highest rainfall accumulations look to occur north of I-10 in the exact spots where we don’t need any more rain. While the timing could change, it looks like the storms will be biased toward the late afternoon and evening hours.

When will the storms clear out?

Many locations north of I-10 should be storm-free by Friday morning, but an upper air disturbance could trigger one more round of scattered storms especially south of I-10.

How is the weekend shaping up?

All things considered, it’s looking like a great weekend for outdoor activities if you can survive the mosquito swarms! Morning lows will dip into the 60s both Saturday and Sunday, with afternoon highs in the low 90s. We’ll get plenty of sunshine under a sunny to mostly sunny sky, and no rain is expected.

13 ALERT RADAR MAPS:

Southeast Texas

Houston

Harris County

Galveston County

Montgomery/Walker/San Jacinto/Polk/Grimes Counties

Fort Bend/Wharton/Colorado Counties

Brazoria/Matagorda Counties

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

Houston ISD Superintendent accused of funneling tax dollars out of state

ABC13 Houston
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Houston ISD Superintendent accused of funneling tax dollars out of state

HOUSTON, Texas — A state lawmaker and Houston teachers are calling for Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles to be investigated after a Spectrum News report revealed that millions in Texas public school tax dollars may have been funneled to a failing school in his Colorado charter school system.

These findings come less than two weeks after the state-appointed administrator announced a $450 million gap in funding at HISD, resulting in districtwide layoffs for the upcoming school year.

A Texas Education Agency spokesperson said agency officials are “aware of the report and are reviewing the matter.”

Miles did not respond to a request from The Texas Tribune for comment on Tuesday.

In March 2023, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath took over the district with a temporary board of trustees. The stated rationale was because of misconduct by the HISD board of trustees and the poor performance rating of Phyllis Wheatley High School. Three months later, Morath appointed Miles, the former superintendent of Dallas ISD, as HISD’s superintendent.

Evacuations underway after barge slammed into Pelican Island bridge in Galveston, causing oil spill
Spectrum News reported on Monday that the Third Future Schools charter school network, based in Colorado and founded by Miles, was using funds from the network’s Odessa school to offset losses at its Aurora, Colorado school. Miles’ sister now runs Third Future Schools.

SEE ALSO: ‘We have a problem’: Public schools in Texas face funding shortfalls

HISD might be the most talked about school district facing financial issues, but it’s one of many. Across the state, big and small districts don’t have enough money to do the job.
Spectrum also reported that Miles received $40,000 last year consulting for Third Future Schools, which was dealing with deep financial setbacks leading to the closure of a Colorado school and $5 million in unpaid debt.

Third Future Schools was created in 2016 after Miles left the superintendent’s job at Dallas ISD. The charter school chain expanded into Texas in 2020, opening three schools in Odessa, Midland and Austin. The Texas expansion, according to Spectrum News, occurred about the time the Colorado schools were showing signs of financial distress.

By the end of 2023, the Texas schools had already accumulated more than $2.5 million dollars in debt, Spectrum News reported in its monthslong investigation.

The news outlet reported that the three Texas schools received $25 million in taxpayer dollars. About $15 million went to teachers and staff. But another $10 million was listed by Third Future Schools as unspecified administrative costs. Subsequent public documents obtained by Spectrum News revealed that more than $2 million went from Third Future Schools’ Texas operation to help cover losses at a Colorado school.

RELATED: Superintendent Mike Miles reverses HISD’s new policy on principal evaluations

The Houston Independent School District superintendent is now saying no school administrators will be fired next year based on the district’s new rating system.


In a letter addressed to Morath, State Rep. Ana Hernandez, D-Houston, urged the state agency to conduct an investigation to clarify whether Texas public school tax dollars had been sent out of state.

“These alleged actions cast doubt on his ability to lead HISD and his commitment to providing the best education for our students,” Hernandez told The Tribune. “Texans deserve transparency, accountability, and responsiveness.”

Jackie Anderson, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, accused Miles of using the tax dollars as his own “personal piggy bank,” echoing Hernandez’s request for an immediate investigation.

“The corruption of this deal stretches beyond just Mike Miles – the board of managers is also complicit in this shadowy scheme by failing to provide oversight and transparency,” she said. “Greg Abbott’s takeover of our schools has failed. Teachers, students and their families deserve better and in response we are demanding the immediate resignation of Mike Miles and the immediate exit of the TEA from HISD.”

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – A Rollercoaster of Highs and Lows

Edward Saenz
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Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – A Rollercoaster of Highs and Lows

By Edward Saenz

The movie kicks off over 300 years after the last movie. This jarring leap in time from the previous films disrupts the continuity of the franchise, causing certain plot points to feel disjointed and unresolved, some even outright impossible. 

The sudden shift in timeline raises more questions than answers, leaving audiences puzzled and disconnected from the overarching narrative.

Alongside the timespan issues, the movie suffers from a very bland and overused formulaic plot. Strikingly similar to the third movie in the franchise, “War for the Planet of the Apes” this movie starts with a conflict that sets into motion the main character, an ape named Noa (voiced by Owen Teague), going on a quest while picking up companions, a comic relief ape and mute blonde girl, along the way. Sound familiar?

Ultimately ending the conflict by fighting the evil boss at the end of the movie, an ape named Proximous Caesar (voiced by Kevin Durand). 

Which leads into the third main issue with the film, the antagonist, while menacing in appearance, lacks depth and complexity beyond being evil and wanting “his vault.”

 He gets very few lines, which is a shame because Durand kills it with what he is given. Somehow being able to bring life and fear into a character that gets maybe 15 minutes of on screen action.  

With limited screen time and little development, Proximous falls flat, failing to leave a lasting impression or pose a significant threat to Noa’s journey. 

I expected more from a franchise that has a history of being able to make genuinely good antagonists and conflict. The second film in the franchise, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” nailed this incredibly well. 

Lastly we come to the conclusion of the film, the big climax at the end. “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” leaves much to be desired on this front, with loose ends and unresolved conflicts marring an otherwise okay narrative. And don’t get me started on how various man-made electronics are able to just turn on after 300 years….

The vague plot twist feels rushed and incongruent with the rest of the film, leaving viewers with a sense of dissatisfaction and confusion. 

The movie wasn’t all bad though and had two main factors that saved it. 

The visuals and detail on the apes was beyond outstanding. Proving Weta Digital are still the kings of VFX. The voice acting and dialogue were incredible, Teague and Durand absolutely carried the film in this aspect.

The film also had what I would call a “delightful nod to the franchise’s roots”, the unexpected cameo of an orangutan brings a nostalgic charm to the film. It serves as a poignant reminder of past adventures while adding a touch of whimsy to the overarching narrative. 

Altogether, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is a cinematic rollercoaster ride filled with highs and lows. While its breathtaking visuals and standout performances are commendable, the film is hindered by a lackluster and generic plot, underdeveloped characters, and narrative inconsistencies. 

Despite its flaws, the film offers moments of genuine entertainment and nostalgia, making it a worthwhile watch for fans of the franchise. I give it a 7.5/10.

Barge hit Pelican Island Causeway, causing portion to fall, officials say

ABC13 Houston
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Barge hit Pelican Island Causeway, causing portion to fall, officials say

GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A barge hit the Pelican Island Causeway Wednesday morning, causing a piece of the bridge to fall, according to the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office.

Pelican Island is north of Galveston, with that bridge linking it to the city. It’s the only way on and off Pelican Island.

All vehicular traffic is stopped.

At about 10 a.m., the vessel under tow broke loose and slammed into the railroad side of the bridge, County Judge Mark Henry said. The rail portion is not in use.

Officials believe two crew members on the ship were either thrown or jumped off, but they were rescued quickly, Henry told ABC13.

Vacuum oil gas is leaking from the barge, which has a capacity of 30,000 gallons. It wasn’t immediately known how much oil gas the barge was carrying.

A view from SkyEye showed about a 300-foot sheen on the water in the bay.

The sheriff’s office said that crews are at the scene assessing the damage.

Despite an initial outage, Henry said that the island has since switched over to a secondary power route on the island.

Texas A&M University Galveston is on Pelican Island and shared an alert Wednesday about the bridge closure.

“Sea Aggie Alert: The Pelican Island Bridge is closed to all traffic at this time due to a barge strike. Electricity has been restored and additional updates will be provided as the situation unfolds. The next scheduled update will be at 1200.”

TAMU is one of the main buildings on the island. The university held commencement ceremonies last week.

Pelican Island is also home to a number of attractions, including Seawolf Park and the Galveston Naval Museum, as well as several port-related industries.

Of note, the Battleship Texas has been in dry-dock on Pelican Island as it undergoes major renovations. It re-entered the water in March. It’s expected to reopen sometime in 2025 or 2026.

What to know about Pelican Island Causeway

The causeway itself is 3,239 feet long with a span length of 164.1 feet.

A proposal was put forth to replace the bridge, with construction to start in summer 2025.

It would stretch from SH 275 to Seawolf Parkway.

The Seawolf Parkway bridge connects Pelican Island to Galveston Island within the city of Galveston.

“The deterioration of the Seawolf Parkway bridge has progressed to the extent that any additional deterioration could result in sudden bridge closure. Since this bridge provides sole access to Pelican Island, bridge closure would effectively cut off access for all users, including evacuation and emergency services,” an overview of the project read.

The bridge was constructed in 1960.

Authorities are concerned now with the accident Wednesday that the barge will be rendered unusable going forward.

Watch live breaking news coverage from ABC13 on our 24/7 streaming news channel.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

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