Some Texans use Whataburger app to track power outages.

How a Texas man turned Whataburger into the state’s power outage tracker Hurricane Beryl had pummeled Southeast Texas on Monday, leaving millions in the Houston area without power. But with technical issues plaguing the tracker for the city’s main energy provider, there was no way to check the status of power outages — or find the still-lit pockets where residents could buy food, gas and other necessities. Then Bryan Norton, a 55-year-old tech worker and podcast host,…

Lacking official sources, some Texans use Whataburger app to track power outages

After Deadly Hurricane, Texans Using Whataburger App to Track Power Outages #tech#technology#software#weather#meteorology#hurricane#HurricaneBeryl#naturaldisaster#disaster#disasterrecovery#whataburger#texas

People in Texas have been using Whataburger's app to follow power outages in the wake of Hurricane Beryl due to a lack of information from Houston's main energy provider. Tracking which restaurants were open helped determine which areas had power. ➡️

Texas-based fast food chain Whataburger has a new purpose: Updating Houston residents about tropical-storm-related power outages. @Eater reports that locations that have a gray icon in the app may be damaged or without power as a result of Storm Beryl. An X user called BBQBryan pointed out the feature yesterday, describing it as "handy, since the electric company doesn't show a map." This comes as Houston Landing reports increasing frustration from Texans with the official CenterPoint Energy map, which some customers say has incorrect info (second link). #TropicalStormBeryl#Houston#PowerOutages#Restaurants#Apps For more stories like this, follow Eater's Houston Magazine, @eater-houston-Eater.