Kingwood, TX — Residents of senior living facilities in Kingwood continue to endure severe hardships as they enter their ninth day without power. CenterPoint Energy has responded by deploying mobile generation units to assist several of these facilities, including Ivy Point, an independent living community for individuals aged 55 and older.
Ted Doyle, one of approximately 200 residents at Ivy Point, expressed frustration over the prolonged outage. “It’s been terrible here,” Doyle lamented. “My insulin’s gone bad because it requires refrigeration. My room was 91 degrees (Monday) night. My sheets were soaking wet from sweat. This has gone on for eight days now. It’s totally unacceptable.”
Although Ivy Point has generators powering the lobby area, providing a crucial lifeline for residents, many other facilities in the area lack such backup systems. Texas currently does not mandate generator backup power for senior facilities.
Stephanie Weeks, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and relies on an electric-powered oxygen machine, described the challenges she faces. “We got to do what we got to do, right? So, we’re fortunate to live someplace because the clubhouse has generators, and we have power. So I brought my concentrator from home,” Weeks shared, highlighting the makeshift arrangements residents have had to resort to.
Despite the presence of CenterPoint contractors in the area, several senior facilities housing medically fragile individuals continue to operate without power. Jackie Thomas, reliant on a breathing machine and an electric wheelchair, emphasized the critical need for immediate assistance.
As residents brace themselves for several more days without power until Friday, Weeks expressed hope for lasting improvements from CenterPoint. “I’m even enrolled in the ‘You’re on a medically necessary device’ program with CenterPoint, and it doesn’t matter,” Weeks remarked critically. “They get to you when they get to you. It’s called a monopoly.”
The situation underscores ongoing challenges faced by senior communities during emergencies, prompting calls for enhanced preparedness and support from utility providers.
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