HOUSTON — More than 1.3 million customers in Texas were still without power Wednesday night, depriving many of air conditioning during a dangerous heat wave, two days after Hurricane Beryl made landfall on the Gulf Coast. The storm, which is blamed for at least 11 deaths in the U.S. and nine in the Caribbean, was a post-tropical cyclone on Wednesday and continued to bring rain to the Great Lakes and New England regions through Wednesday night, according to forecasters.

Heat Advisory and Safety Concerns

The Houston area was under a heat advisory through Thursday, with the heat index—a measure of how hot it feels when humidity is taken into account—predicted to be in the 100-degree range. "This heat is especially dangerous if you remain without power and are doing strenuous outdoor work. Please stay hydrated and use safe generator practices," the National Weather Service in Houston advised. At around noon on Wednesday, it felt like 102 degrees in Houston, further exacerbating the situation for residents without power.

Impact on Residents

The effects of Hurricane Beryl left most in the area without power. Staff members handed out water and operated a cooling station at Lakewood Church in Houston on Tuesday. Melissa Hunziker of Houston shared her experience: "Our house is actually pretty cool right now, but we know that will change quickly ahead. We’ve got a portable fan that is chargeable-battery-operated. So that helped last night, but we won’t probably stay another night," she said. The loss of cellphone connectivity also made it difficult to access emergency information.

Kassie Rieger and Keaton Cravens were out in Houston offering help to those in need. “We just hope people are staying safe and doing what they can to help their neighbors," Rieger told NBC News.

Restoration Efforts

CenterPoint Energy, the main supplier for the greater Houston area, stated on Wednesday that it had restored power to more than 1 million of the 2.26 million customers affected since Beryl arrived. "We’re holding CenterPoint accountable," Mayor John Whitmire said at a news conference Wednesday. "CenterPoint’s going to have to do a better job." The city has opened ice and water distribution centers and cooling centers. With traffic lights out across the city, Whitmire advised drivers to stay home after dark if possible.

Challenges Ahead

It could be days before power is fully restored to some areas, CenterPoint indicated. As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, more than 980,000 of Harris County's 2.1 million customers were without power, according to the company's online tracker. Despite the main elements of CenterPoint's energy system, including its transmission towers and substations, remaining intact, around 1.3 million customers, including those not serviced by CenterPoint, were without power Wednesday night, according to outage tracker poweroutage.us.

Dangers of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

With power outages comes another risk: carbon monoxide poisoning from generators. "We've seen over 200 carbon monoxide poisoning calls in the last 24 hours," Houston Fire Chief Sam Peña reported Wednesday. Generators should never be used indoors, Peña emphasized. "Don't have them anywhere near your home, anywhere near an opening or a door," he warned. People running cars inside garages to charge electronics face similar risks, as the exhaust can quickly overwhelm and kill.

Storm’s Continued Impact

Now a post-tropical cyclone, Beryl was around 80 miles west of Buffalo, New York, at around 11 p.m. Wednesday, moving east-northeast at 20 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. Parts of the eastern Great Lakes region and New England could see around 2 to 4 inches of rain overnight into Thursday.

Fatalities and Damage

At least 11 people in the U.S. have died since Beryl made landfall Monday, many from trees falling onto their homes, amid widespread flooding and disruption. Ten of the deaths occurred in Texas, and one in Louisiana. Five of the Texas deaths were in Harris County, which includes Houston, according to an NBC News count of official reports. Two of these deaths in Harris County were from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Emergency Response and Federal Aid

The city of Houston reported an ambulance shortage, prompting the Texas Division of Emergency Management to send 25 additional ambulances and additional paramedics to hospital emergency rooms. The Houston Airport System also reported dealing with runway repairs and limited staffing in the wake of Beryl, amid a busy summer travel season.

“Our hearts grieve for all Texans impacted by Hurricane Beryl, including our fellow Texans who tragically lost their lives or were injured,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who is overseas on an economic development mission to Asia, said in a statement Tuesday. President Joe Biden has issued a federal major disaster declaration, which will reimburse up to 75% of the costs for debris clearance and other emergency measures. "We will be with the people of Texas for as long as it takes to recover," Biden said in a statement.

Conclusion

The aftermath of Hurricane Beryl has left a significant portion of Texas grappling with power outages, extreme heat, and safety concerns. As efforts to restore power and provide aid continue, the focus remains on ensuring the well-being of residents and preparing for future challenges. The collective response from local, state, and federal authorities underscores the importance of coordinated efforts in the face of natural disasters.