In Fort Bend County, a man is facing charges after an altercation involving a CenterPoint employee. As reported by ABC13, the county still grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, has seen tensions rise amidst ongoing power outages affecting 87,000 homes; residents are struggling in the sweltering heat without the solace of electricity, and officials have yet to provide a clear timetable for restoration.
A CenterPoint worker was threatened at gunpoint while on duty, this incident prompting a stern response from local law enforcement, Fort Bend County Sheriff Eric Fagan emphasized, “We had a call that a CenterPoint worker had a gun pulled on him. This is something we will not tolerate," he stated firmly during a news conference, as KHOU 11 reported. Any aggressive acts against utility workers will be met with legal action, including arrests and charges.
As the clean-up effort continues, particularly in areas like Richmond where residents such as Bruce Holland are dealing with damage to their homes, frustration has been exacerbated by CenterPoint's handling of the crisis; they have been criticized for not staging additional workforce ahead of the storm, resulting in delayed assessments and restorations. CenterPoint has indicated that power for approximately 500,000 customers may not be restored until next week, further straining the patience of those affected.
In light of these incidents, Sheriff Fagan reminded the public that the linemen, working exhaustive hours under challenging conditions, should not bear the brunt of the community's anger, “You have to realize CenterPoint calls people outside of the state to help with this emergency. We will not tolerate them being abused, let alone having a gun pulled on them," he said.
