A Hurricane Divide in Houston: Who Has a Generator?

When the power goes out in Houston, some neighborhoods are filled with the sound of gas-powered backup generators, creating an instant sonic guide to the city’s social divisions.

In wealthier parts of the city, the sheer number of generators can create a pervasive roar. In other neighborhoods, there is a low rumble from a handful of machines — or just one.

“My neighbor has it just for his fridge,” said Theresa Del Bosque, 62, describing the rare home in her north Houston area with a generator. “Most people cannot afford it.”

With around a million customers still without power on Thursday, more than three days after Hurricane Beryl tore through the city, the question of who has a generator, and who can get one, has become an urgent one.

Even for residents who could afford the often steep prices, finding a generator was proving to be a challenge in the immediate aftermath of the storm. The ones left on Thursday were still flying off the shelves at hardware stores where even the cheaper versions were priced at nearly $1,000.

A Harris County sheriff’s deputy stood guard at a Home Depot in north Houston that had recently received a shipment of generators and chain saws, for cutting apart fallen trees. The store had already reached an occupancy limit, and a line stretched outside of those waiting to get in.