More photos and video

Here are some new updates out of Houston. Even though the hurricane has passed, the city is still under serious flash flood alerts.

Here is an update on the bayous from Sunday afternoon:

http://www.khou.com/video/topstories-index.html?nvid=282559&shu=1

But, unfortuately, we are having more rainfall through Sunday morning.

Here is a video from the local CBS station from about 45 minutes ago:
http://www.khou.com/video/topstories-index.html?nvid=282625&shu=1

Here is the news report to go with it:
http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou080914_tnt_flash_floods.75b2d1cf.html


In the meantime, the city government just announced that there will be a citywide curfew for ALL of Houston (not just areas that were under mandatory evacuation) from today Sunday Sept 14 to Saturday Sept 20 between the hours of 9:00 pm and 6:00 am.

CenterPoint energy, which is the private company (i.e. not government run) that owns all of the power lines in Houston, has updated us with the following:

Houston – Sept. 13, 2008 – As of 8 p.m., CenterPoint Energy has restored power to 112,000 customers, primarily in the western portion of its service territory, in the first eight hours of the recovery effort. Of the 2.26 million CenterPoint Energy customers, 1.99 million are still without power.

The company’s electric system suffered widespread damage as a result of 100-mile-per-hour winds, and trees and wind-blown debris on power lines. Highlights of the first day include:

Restoration of the Coastal Water Authority Lynchburg water pumping station, a major source of water for the City of Houston and other smaller communities in the area Service restoration for one water treatment facility and one wastewater treatment plant in the City of Houston Restoration of service to hospitals such as the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in the Texas Medical Center; Memorial Herman Hospital, Memorial City; and the Heart Institute in Clear Lake City Inspections by company personnel of electric substations on Galveston island, with a goal of restoring service to the University of Texas Medical Branch as soon as possible Company damage assessment experts flew over the area conducting aerial surveys and documenting damage.

CenterPoint Energy crews are working around the clock and are ready to integrate the first of more than 7,000 skilled workers who are coming to Houston beginning on Sunday to assist with power restoration.

Patience will continue to be a key factor. Customers need to be prepared to be without power for up to four weeks and possibly longer depending on the severity of the damage. Customers need to keep in mind that CenterPoint Energy crews will have limited access to some areas due to flooding and debris.

Customers are asked NOT to call the company to report outages, but only to report emergencies such as downed power lines at 713-207-2222.