People on breathing machines struggle without power after weather disasters

HOUSTON (AP) — Kimberly Rubit had one priority in mind as Hurricane Beryl ripped through Houston this summer: her severely disabled daughter.

The 63-year-old worked nonstop to prevent Mary, 42, from overheating without air conditioning, water or lights after Beryl knocked out power to their home for 10 days. At least three dozen other people suffered heat-related deaths during the extended outage.

“It was miserable,” Rubit said. “I’m sick of it.”

Electric grids have buckled more frequently and outages have become longer across the U.S. as the warming atmosphere carries more water and stirs up more destructive storms, according to an AP analysis of government data. In the Pacific Northwest this week, a “ bomb cyclone ” caused roughly half a million outages.

People with disabilities and chronic health conditions are particularly at risk when the power goes out, and many live in homes that lack the weatherizing and backup power supplies needed to better handle high temperatures and cold freezes, or can't pay their electricity bills, said Columbia University sociomedical sciences professor Diana Hernandez, who studies energy instability in U.S. homes.

At any given time, 1 in 3 households in the U.S. is "actively trying to avoid a disconnection or contending with the aftermath of it,” Hernandez said.

In Texas, as another winter approaches, people can't shake fears of another blackout like the one during a cold freeze in 2021 that left millions without power for days and killed more than 200 people. Despite efforts to create more resilience, a winter storm that powerful could still lead to rolling blackouts, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which manages most of the state's power grid.

Beryl also knocked out power to millions for days, sickening many in the sweltering July heat. Local and state officials showered criticism on CenterPoint Energy, Houston’s power utility, saying it should have communicated more clearly, taken more preventive measures such as tree trimming before the storm hit and repaired downed power lines more quickly. The utility's response remains under investigation by the Texas attorney general.

CenterPoint says it is focused now on improving resiliency, customer communications and community partnerships with the one defining goal: “to build the most resilient coastal grid in the country that can better withstand the extreme weather of the future.”

Texas lawmakers, meanwhile, are debating whether assisted living facilities need more regulation. One suggestion: requiring them to have enough emergency generator fuel to power lifesaving equipment and keep indoor temperatures safe during an extended blackout, as Florida did after a scandal over hurricane-related nursing home deaths.

The legislative panel also reviewed emergency responses this month. Regulated facilities and nursing centers fared better than places such as senior communities that aren't subject to strict oversight, according to city and state officials. This meant hundreds of apartment complexes catering to older adults, as well as private homes, were likely more susceptible to losing power and going without food.

“We’ve got to find a way to mark these facilities or get it entered into the computer dispatch systems,” said Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management. “There are so many places in our own city that we have no idea until that 911 call comes into that facility,” he said.

Texas energy companies have been required since 2003 to provide advance notice of scheduled outages to medically vulnerable households that submit a form with physician approval. But that law didn't require the utilities to share these lists with state or local emergency management agencies.

Numerous states have similar regulatory requirements and 38 have policies aimed at preventing disconnections during extreme weather, according to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. In Colorado, medically vulnerable residents are protected from disconnection for up to 90 days. In Arkansas, utilities can’t disconnect power to people who are 65 or older if temperatures are forecast to reach above 94 degrees Fahrenheit (34 Celsius).

In Houston, Rubit and her daughter share one of the roughly 3,000 households where unreliable power can quickly spiral into a life-and-death issue because at least one person requires a medical device powered by electricity, according to public filings from CenterPoint. The utility offers such households payment plans to keep the electricity on when they fall behind on their bills.

The utility's efforts bring little solace to community members at a Houston living center for seniors, Commons of Grace, where outages have become a haunting facet of life for more than 100 residents, said Belinda Taylor, who runs a nonprofit partnered with the managing company.

“I’m just frustrated that we didn’t get the services that we needed,” Taylor said. “It’s ridiculous that we have had to suffer.”

Sharon Burks, who lives at Commons of Grace, said it became unbearable when the power went out. She is 63 and uses a breathing machine for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which causes shortness of breath. She had to resort to her battery-powered breathing pump, which isn’t meant to be used for long periods.

“I didn’t expect anything from CenterPoint," Burks said. "We’re always the last to get it.”

Mary Burks becomes emotional as she repeatedly questions who will help those suffering after a hurricane during an interview at Commons of Grace Senior on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo / Annie Mulligan)

Patricia Johnican remembers surviving without power after Hurricane Beryl during an interview at Commons of Grace Senior living facility on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo / Annie Mulligan)

Sharon Burks remembers Congressman Sheila Jackson Lee's help as she suffered without power after Hurricane Beryl during an interview at Commons of Grace Senior on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo / Annie Mulligan)

Sharon Burks smiles as she thinks about the help she needed and received after Hurricane Beryl during an interview at Commons of Grace Senior on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo / Annie Mulligan)

Patricia Johnican passes through a common kitchen area after Wednesday bingo at Commons of Grace Senior on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo / Annie Mulligan)

Patricia Johnican smiles as she greets a friend at Commons of Grace Senior on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo / Annie Mulligan)

Sharon Burks remembers surviving without power after Hurricane Beryl during an interview at Commons of Grace Senior on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo / Annie Mulligan)

Mary Burks pauses while calling out officials for their lack of action during an interview at Commons of Grace Senior on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo / Annie Mulligan)

Patricia Johnican smiles as she talks about her family during an interview at Commons of Grace Senior on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo / Annie Mulligan)

Patricia Johnican greets Lady Belinda Taylor as she passes through a common kitchen area after Wednesday bingo at Commons of Grace Senior on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo / Annie Mulligan)

The NBA Cup has its first quarterfinalist: Golden State is in the round of eight. And on Tuesday night, the tournament resumes with five more group-play games as the Dec. 17 title contest in Las Vegas draws closer.

The NBA Cup was called the In-Season Tournament last year when it debuted, after years and years of Commissioner Adam Silver wanting to add something extra to the regular season. All 30 teams take part and play four group-stage games.

From there, eight teams move to the quarterfinals, and the winners of those games head to Las Vegas for the semifinals on Dec. 14.

The Warriors are 3-0 in West Group C and have clinched that group's automatic quarterfinal berth. New Orleans — a tournament semifinalist last year — has been eliminated from contention. Everyone else, at least mathematically, still has a shot.

All games in the tournament — except for the championship game — count in the regular-season standings and statistics. The championship game is considered extra and isn't part of the 82-game season for the two teams that make the final.

TNT has a doubleheader Tuesday: Bucks-Heat and Lakers-Suns.

On the “Black Friday” shopping holiday this coming Friday, ESPN and NBA TV will show five Cup games — spanning about 13 hours of coverage in all — with games starting at noon EST and tipping off through 10 p.m.

There will be quarterfinal doubleheaders, with two games on TNT on Dec. 10; on Dec. 11, one will be on ESPN followed by another on TNT.

TNT will show the first Cup semifinal from Las Vegas on Dec. 14 at 4:30 p.m., followed by the second semifinal at 8:30 p.m. on ABC.

The championship game is an 8:30 p.m., airing Dec. 17 on ABC.

Local broadcasts will also be available when NBA rules permit, as usual.

According to BetMGM Sportsbook, New York, at +550, is the favorite to win the NBA Cup. And if the NBA Cup MVP trophy was to be handed out today, the favorite according to BetMGM: the Knicks' Jalen Brunson.

A breakdown of the groups and the standings:

East Group A — Orlando 2-0, New York 2-0, Philadelphia 1-2, Brooklyn 1-2, Charlotte 0-2.

Schedule: New York 111, Philadelphia 99;Orlando 114, Charlotte 89;New York 124, Brooklyn 122;Orlando 98, Philadelphia 86;Brooklyn 116, Charlotte 115;Philadelphia 113, Brooklyn 98; New York at Charlotte, Tuesday; Orlando at Brooklyn, Tuesday; Philadelphia at Charlotte, Dec. 3; Orlando at New York, Dec. 3.

East Group B — Milwaukee 2-0, Detroit 2-0, Miami 1-1, Toronto 0-2, Indiana 0-2.

Schedule: Detroit 123, Miami 121;Milwaukee 99, Toronto 85;Miami 124, Indiana 111;Detroit 99, Toronto 95;Milwaukee 129, Indiana 117; Milwaukee at Miami, Tuesday; Toronto at Miami, Friday; Detroit at Indiana, Friday; Milwaukee at Detroit, Dec. 3; Indiana at Toronto, Dec. 3.

East Group C — Atlanta 2-1, Boston 2-1, Cleveland 1-1, Chicago 1-1, Washington 0-2.

Schedule: Atlanta 117, Boston 116; Cleveland 144, Chicago 126;Atlanta 129, Washington 117;Boston 120, Cleveland 117;Chicago 136, Atlanta 122;Boston 108, Washington 96; Chicago at Washington, Tuesday; Boston at Chicago, Friday; Cleveland at Atlanta, Friday; Washington at Cleveland, Dec. 3.

West Group A — Houston 2-0, Los Angeles Clippers 1-1, Portland 1-1, Minnesota 1-1, Sacramento 0-2.

Schedule: Portland 106, Minnesota 98;Minnesota 130, Sacramento 126;Houston 125, LA Clippers 104;LA Clippers 104, Sacramento 88;Houston 116, Portland 88; Houston at Minnesota, Tuesday; LA Clippers at Minnesota, Friday; Sacramento at Portland, Friday; Houston at Sacramento, Dec. 3; Portland at LA Clippers, Dec. 3.

West Group B — Los Angeles Lakers 2-0, Oklahoma City 1-1, San Antonio 1-1, Phoenix 1-1, Utah 0-2.

Schedule: Phoenix 120, Utah 112;LA Lakers 120, San Antonio 115;Oklahoma City 99, Phoenix 83;San Antonio 110, Oklahoma City 104;LA Lakers 124, Utah 118; LA Lakers at Phoenix, Tuesday; San Antonio at Utah, Tuesday; Oklahoma City at LA Lakers, Friday; Utah at Oklahoma City, Dec. 3; San Antonio at Phoenix, Dec. 3.

West Group C — Golden State 3-0, Dallas 2-1, New Orleans 1-2, Denver 1-2, Memphis 0-2.

Schedule: Golden State 120, Dallas 117;New Orleans 101, Denver 94;Golden State 123, Memphis 118;Denver 122, Memphis 110;Dallas 132, New Orleans 91;Dallas 123, Denver 120;Golden State 112, New Orleans 108; New Orleans at Memphis, Friday; Memphis at Dallas, Dec. 3; Golden State at Denver, Dec. 3.

The best single-game scoring efforts in the NBA Cup this season.

60 — De'Aaron Fox, Sacramento vs. Minnesota, Nov. 15

43 — Cam Thomas, Brooklyn at New York, Nov. 15

40 — Tyler Herro, Miami at Detroit, Nov. 12

40 — Anthony Davis, LA Lakers at San Antonio, Nov. 15

There were four triple-doubles in NBA Cup games last season (Domantas Sabonis had two, Nikola Jokic had one and Tyrese Haliburton had one). There have been seven already in Cup games this season (Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, Jalen Johnson, Josh Hart and Alperen Sengun all have one).

Chicago got its first-ever NBA Cup win on Friday night, topping Atlanta to move to 1-5 in tournament games. That leaves Washington and Memphis (both 0-6) as the only clubs yet to win a Cup game.

Golden State's three closest wins this season: 120-117 over Dallas, 112-108 over New Orleans and 123-118 over Memphis. All three were in NBA Cup games.

To the winners: pride, a trophy and money.

Players on the winning team will claim $514,971 each, while $205,988 goes to each player on the runner-up team, $102,994 to players whose teams lost in the semifinals and $51,497 to those players whose teams lost in the quarterfinals.

If teams get eliminated in group play, they'll have two more games added to their schedule. If teams get eliminated in the quarterfinals, they'll have one more game added.

All teams have only 80 games scheduled so far in the regular season but will play 82. That's why the title game doesn't count; it would be an 83rd game for those teams (the 80 games that are already scheduled, then the quarterfinal, then the semifinal will be their 82 games).

Not every game played over the next month is a tournament game. A quick way to know if it is a tournament matchup: Every team has a new, distinctive court for these games. See those courts, and you'll know it's a Cup game.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

New York Knicks' OG Anunoby, left, dunks past Philadelphia 76ers' Kyle Lowry during the second half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Toronto Raptors' Jakob Poeltl goes after a loose ball with Milwaukee Bucks' Brook Lopez and Ryan Rollins during the second half of an Emirates NBA Cup tournament basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns, center, goes up for a shot past Philadelphia 76ers' Paul George, left, during the second half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

The Minnesota Timberwolves brings the ball up court against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

Charlotte Hornets' Brandon Miller, center, dunks between Philadelphia 76ers' Kelly Oubre Jr., left, and Jeff Dowtin Jr. during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Memphis Grizzlies center Jay Huff (30) reacts after scoring as Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) looks on during in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)