Hurricane knocks out power to 55,000 in Texas

NEW YORK Houston-based CenterPoint Energy Inc. ((CNP.N)) said Tuesday Hurricane Claudette has knocked out service to about 55,000 electricity customers as it roars toward the Texas coast packing winds of 80 miles per hour.

Late Tuesday morning, the company had restored power to nearly 24,000 customers, but 31,300 users remained without service, primarily in coastal areas like Galveston Island, Brazoria County and the city of South Houston, the company said in a statement.

Hurricanes typically play havoc with local power distribution lines, pounding them with heavy rain, knocking down trees and sending debris flying through the air.

CenterPoint Energy serves nearly 5 million customers in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri and Oklahoma.

The center of Hurricane Claudette, about 20 miles east of Port O'Connor, Texas, was expected to hit the central Texas coast around midday Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, said.

Reuters