HOUSTON, TEXAS—In the wake of Hurricane Beryl’s destructive path through Greater Houston, a wave of misinformation and real-life threats has swept across the city, targeting both area residents and linemen tasked with restoring power to thousands still in the dark.
As the outage stretches into its tenth day, frustrations among residents have boiled over, leading to disturbing incidents directed at the linemen working tirelessly to repair the grid. Reports of harassment, assaults, and even threats with firearms have marred what should have been a unified effort to recover from the storm.
Conversely, a false narrative of Houstonians giving fentanyl-laced water bottles to at least two linemen, leaving them hospitalized, has been proven false by fact check.
There is a growing suspicion among city residents that this story, along with stories about kidnapped linemen, are circulating intentionally to vilify Houstonians and shift public sentiment away from empathy toward those suffering and without power in Houston.
Such misinformation not only detracts from the real threats faced by linemen but also undermines efforts to foster community unity during a challenging time. As investigations into these incidents continue, the focus remains on supporting the linemen and ensuring their safety as they work tirelessly to restore power to neighborhoods across Houston.
The Truth Behind the Misinformation
Recent claims circulating on social media alleging linemen were offered fentanyl-laced water bottles have been debunked as false. However, the reality is no less alarming. According to eyewitness accounts and official reports, incidents of hostility towards linemen are unfortunately true.
“We’ve had guys who have had guns pulled on them, we’ve got guys who have had rocks picked up and slung at them,” said Ed Allen, Business Manager for IBEW Local 66, reflecting on the unprecedented violence faced by linemen during this restoration effort.
Real Threats, Real Dangers
One particularly harrowing incident involved a lineman being threatened with a gun on Wilcrest Drive by 38-year-old Anthony Aloric Leonard, resulting in his arrest.
Additionally, CenterPoint Energy has publicly addressed multiple security breaches, including a shocking drive-by shooting and attacks at their staging sites.
“The safety of our employees, contractors, mutual assistance crews, and support personnel is our top priority,” CEO Jason Wells wrote in a statement. “For that reason, we have decided to close the site until we can be sure it is safe.”
The hazing and harassment of linemen got so bad that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott held a press conference condemning the acts and urging residents to support the linemen rather than obstruct their efforts.
“If you’re interfering with somebody who’s trying to get the power back up, you’re not speeding up the process of getting the power back on; you’re slowing that process down,” Abbott said.
In a separate press conference, Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia, labor representatives for linemen and law enforcement leaders also urged Houston to end the aggression and hostilities toward linemen.
“Violence and threats against people who are working to get the lights back on is not the answer, never,” Garcia said. “All that does is make it harder and longer to get your lights back on.”
The challenges faced by linemen come amid widespread frustrations over prolonged power outages in the wake of Hurricane Beryl. The storm knocked out power to over 2 million CenterPoint customers, leaving many residents without essential services in dangerously hot conditions.
The utility company’s response has been heavily criticized, with some residents resorting to symbolic protests like placing skeletons next to signs demanding power restoration.
The incident underscores the vulnerability of the electric infrastructure in Texas to increasingly severe weather events.
In times of crisis, accurate reporting is absolutely paramount. Further, neither linemen nor Houston residents should be vilified. Community support and togetherness are critical among city residents and those working tirelessly to restore normalcy.
