WHARTON — The Pecan Village Apartments in Wharton have experienced a multi-day power outage that began on Thursday evening. The outage has left residents without air conditioning, refrigeration, hot water, and functioning elevators.
Several wheelchair-bound residents were unable to exit upper-floor apartments due to non-operational elevators. Some senior residents are sleeping on cots in the lobby area, where electricity remains operational. Tonie Allen, a resident, said, "We need help. We're suffering."
Property management offered temporary hotel accommodations for individuals listed on a lease. Some residents were relocated to hotels but were required to vacate over the weekend. Debra Sabrsula, another resident, stated, "Please send us information. Treat us like humans."
CenterPoint Energy is coordinating with property management and city leaders to restore full power to the complex. City officials began coordination with property owners on Friday to address the outage. Electricians restored electricity to the first and second floors of the building, and repair crews are working to restore power to the third floor and the main electrical system.
Local churches and community organizations distributed food, water, and donations to impacted tenants. Tenant lease agreements indicate that electricity costs are included in the monthly rent. The property received a score of 96 during a 2024 inspection by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.