South Dallas residents brace for days without power after Tuesday storm knocks down trees and power lines
“They don’t ever come straight to here and get our power back on. We always have to wait for power,” said Bobby Douglas, a South Dallas resident.
Author: Brittani Moncrease
A homeowner takes a picture while looking outside her window pane after the storm on Tuesday morning, May 28. 2024 in Mesquite, Texas.
DALLAS — Just when they thought the hard part was over, it only continued.
“It came back, ‘Whoo.’ Then the house started shaking,” said Bobby Douglas, a South Dallas resident. “We’re without power and been without power since 6:17 this morning.”
Douglas took WFAA to his home where he runs his barbecue business. He had two deep freezers full of meat. It was more than $600 worth of food that he has to find somewhere else to store because he’s been without power for more than 12 hours.
“I’m going to have to call my family and arrange with them to store stuff at multiple houses,” said Douglas. “There’s nothing else I can do.”
It was not just his home. The entire neighborhood has been without power. WFAA spoke with one resident who did not want to identify herself. She had been sitting in her car all morning to keep cool.
“They told me it would be fixed shortly. They’re working on it now, but I don’t see anybody out here working. I’m like, yeah, when are they going to start,” said the resident.
It is a question many in the neighborhood had. They said they are always the last to get power restored.
“We pay too much money to the City of Dallas for us to be neglected like this, and we’re right here by downtown,” said Douglas.
“It takes a while,” said Ronnie Boyce, another resident. He and his wife, Emily Newsome, were also without power.
“Usually, we can get a message from Oncor. I’m on the list where I get an email message. I haven’t gotten anything today. We’ve called twice,” said Newsome. “I work hybrid, so this is my remote day. I don’t have electricity. I don’t have internet, so I can’t work.”
Oncor said restoration may take days. They told WFAA that they understand the frustration and that every ZIP code matters; however, some residents said they don’t feel that way.
“Look at the demographics. We’re Black,” said Douglas. “People that don’t have anywhere to take their stuff to, what are they going to do?”
It is another question that only time can answer.
Oncor has been encouraging residents to check on each other, the elderly and vulnerable residents. They also said if you see a downed power line, stay away and call 911 immediately.
