When Hurricane Beryl hit Houston, CenterPoint Energy's outage map failed spectacularly. Residents discovered an unlikely hero: the Whataburger app. Open locations (orange icons) meant power was on; closed ones (gray) meant blackouts. A viral tweet by BBQBryan sparked massive downloads. The fast-food chain inadvertently outperformed a utility company during a crisis. Sometimes salvation comes with a side of fries and that iconic orange W.
When Hurricane Beryl slammed into Houston, it left more than 2.2 million customers in the dark—and in the information void. CenterPoint Energy failed to provide an outage map. Customers were furious. Where could they turn?
Enter Whataburger. Yes, the burger chain.
When disaster struck, the unlikeliest hero emerged from Texas fast food royalty, serving up power status instead of patty melts.
Houstonians, desperate and resourceful, discovered an unlikely power outage tracking tool: the Whataburger app. The fast-food app's simple interface accidentally became the city's most reliable power status indicator. Open locations appeared in orange, closed ones in gray. No electricity? No burgers. Perfect logic.
The makeshift solution went viral after a user named BBQBryan posted about it on X. "No outage map from CenterPoint? No problem. The Whataburger app shows which locations have power." People immediately started downloading. It worked. The tweet quickly garnered 8.3 million views since being posted Monday night.
Meanwhile, CenterPoint offered nothing but excuses. The utility company eventually released a scaled-down tracker, but users preferred Whataburger's clear visual representation. Orange means power. Gray means darkness. Simple enough for anyone to understand. Like Threads' rapid growth, the app's adoption spread quickly, with thousands of downloads per hour.
Acting Governor Dan Patrick didn't hold back his criticism of CenterPoint's lack of preparedness. The company's reputation took a nosedive while Whataburger inadvertently became a public service provider. Following this incident, some suggested the company could launch a crowdfunding campaign to develop a dedicated emergency response platform.
The irony wasn't lost on anyone. A burger joint's app outperformed a multi-billion dollar utility company during a crisis. The ongoing frustration stemming from previous outages like May's derecho made the situation even more infuriating. Whataburger acknowledged the unexpected use of their app, cautioning people to prioritize safety while searching for power.
For many Houstonians, finding an open Whataburger meant more than just food—it meant charging phones, accessing Wi-Fi, and finding temporary relief from sweltering heat. The orange W became a beacon of hope in neighborhoods plunged into darkness.
Technology companies spend millions developing emergency response tools, yet a fast food app designed to sell burgers and fries became Houston's lifeline. Sometimes the simplest solutions emerge from the most unexpected places.
What a burger. What an app. What a disaster response.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Accurate Is Whataburger's App Compared to Official Outage Maps?
Whataburger's app lacks the precision of official outage maps.
It's a crude proxy at best. Official maps show affected customer counts, restoration timelines, and specific outage boundaries.
The burger chain's app? Just orange logos for open stores, gray for closed ones. No details on why places are shuttered.
Helpful in a pinch when CenterPoint's systems fail, but seriously lacking in detail. Better than nothing, though.
Can I Report Outages Through the Whataburger App?
No, you can't report outages through the Whataburger app.
It's a food ordering platform, not a utility service. The app just shows which restaurants are open (orange) or closed (gray).
People started using it to guess where power was working. Pretty clever hack, actually.
For real outage reporting, you'll need CenterPoint Energy's channels. The burger joint's app is just an accidental power detective.
Does the App Show Estimated Restoration Times?
No, the Whataburger app doesn't show estimated power restoration times.
It's just a fast food app, not a utility service. Users can only see which restaurants are open (orange) or closed (gray).
That's it. People are using this as a makeshift power outage map out of desperation.
Want actual restoration estimates? You'll need to contact CenterPoint Energy directly.
The burger joint app isn't that sophisticated.
Is This Feature Available in Cities Outside Houston?
No, the "Whataburger as power outage tracker" feature isn't officially available outside Houston.
It's just a hack Houstonians stumbled upon during emergencies. Other cities with Whataburger locations could theoretically use the app similarly—checking which restaurants are open to gauge power status—but it's not a recognized system elsewhere.
Most other cities have proper utility outage maps anyway. Houston's situation was uniquely desperate.
How Often Does the Whataburger App Update Its Outage Information?
The Whataburger app updates in real-time to show which locations are operational. Open restaurants display orange logos, closed ones appear gray.
It's not an official outage tracker—just a clever workaround. Users should call specific locations for confirmation though.
The updates happen continuously as store statuses change. Pretty resourceful solution when the power company leaves you in the dark, literally.
