Following the devastation left by Hurricane Beryl, which resulted in approximate 1.8 million utility customers in Houston, Texas facing blackouts, the Whataburger app has unexpectedly become a trending topic. The electrical outage, affecting hundreds of thousands, could last for several days amidst an upcoming heatwave with temperature forecasts hinting at the mid-90s.
In their search for solutions amidst dissatisfaction with CenterPoint Energy’s lack of a mobile application for outage tracking, the residents of Houston creatively adopted the Whataburger app for this unintended purpose.
Originating from San Antonio, the Whataburger fast-food chain operates 127 outlets in Houston, as reported by Newsweek. Through its app, locations of Whataburger can be identified with an orange logo for open stores and a grey logo for those that are closed.
With CenterPoint Energy lacking a digital map for its outages, an individual named BBQBryan noted that the operational status of Whataburger stores could indirectly indicate electricity availability in the area.
“Using the Whataburger app as a makeshift tracker for power outages is practical since there’s no map from the electric company,” BBQBryan mentioned in a post that has attracted over 22,000 likes and 6.9 million views.
Responding to this unintended application, Whataburger’s account on X commented, “This is an unexpected use of our app, but we’re glad it’s been helpful! Stay safe, everyone.”
This surge in popularity has propelled Whataburger’s app to the 16th spot in the food and drink category on the iOS App Store, a significant leap from its 40th position just three weeks earlier.
While the widespread adoption of the Whataburger app for an alternative purpose has its comedic aspects, it underscores deeper issues within Texas related to infrastructure and disaster preparedness. The state has faced harsh scrutiny, especially after the 2021 winter storm that left millions without electricity in frigid conditions, and the controversy surrounding Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) vacationing in Mexico during a critical time of need. His recent advise to the residents to ‘stay safe’ was met with ire due to past actions, amplifying frustrations on X.
The unintended utility of a fast-food chain’s app as an essential resource for tracking power showcases a significant gap in the availability of critical information following a catastrophic event, emphasizing a need for more robust infrastructure support.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
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