Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas – A series of more than 12,000 power outages that affected customers throughout Hidalgo County over the past weekend may have been inconvenient for most, but could have been potentially lethal for others.
But thanks to the Hidalgo County Community Service Agency’s “Power Up Generator” program, at least three local residents whose lives depend on reliable power declared the program a success.
The Power Up Generator or PUG program, offered by the Hidalgo County CSA, provides generators for those with medical necessities. The generators are given to the residents after they participate in a generator safety training program given by the Hidalgo County Fire Marshal’s Office.
“This is what we are in business for,” said Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez.
The power outage that occurred in different locations throughout Hidalgo County on Sunday was blamed on a series of fires that broke out on utility poles that carry lines transmitting electricity.
A quick survey of 25 PUG participants was taken earlier this week and three of them reported their use of the generators to sustain the flow of oxygen that they need to supplement their breathing. Currently, there are 70 Hidalgo County families participating in this program.
The participants who made use of the generator hailed from Weslaco, Edinburg and Pharr. The identities of the participants are being withheld for their privacy.
To learn more about the PUG program, please contact the Hidalgo County Community Service Agency at 956-383-6240.
