Texans grappling with widespread power outages in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl have found an unconventional source for updates: Whataburger‘s mobile app. With over 2 million customers affected by outages since Monday, many Texans have turned to the burger chain’s app after finding CenterPoint Energy’s outage map offline since May due to a prior weather event.
The Whataburger app, typically used for locating restaurant openings, has become a makeshift power outage tracker. Users observe the app’s map, color-coded with Whataburger’s iconic “W” logo showing orange for open locations and grey for closures—often indicating lack of power during this crisis.
A Houston resident, @BBQBryan, shared his discovery on social media, highlighting the app’s utility in the absence of official utility provider updates. His post gained widespread attention, garnering millions of views and thousands of likes within hours.
Whataburger confirmed that their app updates in real-time as locations regain power, providing residents with crucial information on where electricity is available amidst the chaos caused by Beryl. Company President and CEO Ed Nelson expressed gratitude that the app could assist Houstonians during this challenging time, while cautioning users to verify operational status by contacting local units directly.
CenterPoint Energy, facing criticism for communication lapses during the crisis, deployed thousands of workers to restore service to the more than 1 million customers still without power by Wednesday. Despite efforts, frustrated customers reported difficulty in reaching the utility via traditional channels, pushing many to seek information elsewhere, including social media and Whataburger’s app.
As of Tuesday afternoon, CenterPoint’s outage map remained unavailable on its website, compounding public frustration.
The company advised longer-than-usual phone hold times and encouraged residents to sign up for emergency alerts for updates on service restoration efforts.
Whataburger, which operates 165 locations in the greater Houston area, reported that nearly half were open and operational as of Tuesday afternoon. However, social media users noted discrepancies, with some locations listed as open on the app reportedly closed or operating in limited capacities despite appearing to have power.
The reliance on Whataburger’s app underscores the resilience of Texans in navigating crises and highlights the unexpected role of businesses in providing critical information during emergencies.