Whataburger App Becomes Unlikely Power Outage Map After Houston Hurricane
Frustrated Houston Residents Turn to Whataburger App for Power Outage Information
In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, which left approximately 1.8 million utility customers in Houston, Texas without power, residents turned to an unlikely source for information on power outages: the Whataburger app.
The viral phenomenon has seen hundreds of thousands of people remain without power for days as Houston anticipates a heat wave, with temperatures expected to climb into the mid-90s. Amidst frustrations with local utility company CenterPoint Energy, which does not offer an app, some resourceful residents discovered that the Whataburger app could serve as a makeshift power outage tracker.
The Unlikely Power Outage Tracker
Users of the Whataburger app can view a map of locations with orange logos indicating stores are open and grey logos signifying they are closed. Given CenterPoint Energy’s lack of an online map, some clever individuals realized that this map could be repurposed to track power outages.
BBQ Bryan (@BBQBryan), a user with over 22,000 likes and 6.9 million impressions on his post, stated: "The Whataburger app works as a power outage tracker, handy since the electric company doesn’t show a map."
Whataburger’s response was prompt, acknowledging the unexpected use of their app: "Well there’s a use for our app we didn’t think of! We hope you and everyone else are okay!"
A Reflection of Ongoing Issues in Texas
The Whataburger revelation highlights ongoing issues in Texas, where residents feel unsupported during extreme weather events. In 2021, millions of Texans were left without power due to a fierce winter storm, with many forced into freezing temperatures.
Senator Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) decision to fly to Mexico while his state suffered a historically fatal power grid failure has been criticized as tone-deaf and hypocritical. When Cruz urged Texans to stay safe amid the hurricane’s landfall, some constituents responded with frustration on social media platforms like X.
Why the Whataburger App Became a Crucial Resource
The Whataburger app may offer a rough idea of where power is available, but it also highlights potential issues with relying on commercial apps for critical information during emergencies. For instance, there could be reasons unrelated to power outages that cause stores to be closed, especially in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster.
Impact on Whataburger
The viral moment has contributed to an increase in downloads for the Whataburger app. In the iOS App Store, it is currently ranked 16th in the food and drink category, up from its previous ranking of 40 just three weeks ago.
Social Media Reaction and Hypocrisy
The Whataburger phenomenon has sparked a conversation about social media’s role in facilitating creative solutions to infrastructure failures. Some have pointed out the irony that residents turned to a fast-food app for information on power outages, while others criticized Senator Cruz for his response to the situation.
Conclusion
As Houston and other affected areas continue to recover from Hurricane Beryl, it is essential to acknowledge the resourcefulness of residents who used the Whataburger app as a makeshift power outage tracker. The incident also serves as a reminder of ongoing issues in Texas regarding infrastructure support during extreme weather events.
A Call for Action
The situation highlights the need for reliable and accessible information sources during emergencies, especially when commercial apps are leveraged to fill gaps in public services. As we move forward, it is crucial to address these concerns and work towards developing more effective solutions that prioritize public safety and well-being.
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