Power outage leaves apartment residents in the dark in SE Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- More than 100 families have been without power for hours at an apartment complex in southeast Houston.

"There's no lights, no one has air," one resident said. "I mean, we're not going to have any food to eat because there's no electricity at all."

Residents at Crestmont Village say they paid their rent a few days ago, and utilities are included.

Tiara Watts said her son has health problems.

"He's asthmatic. So he has to have his breathing machine every four hours," Watts said. "He hasn't had one since six o'clock this morning. It's time for him to have another treatment."

The property manager is not on site, but after several phone calls, abc13 was able to track her down. She said there was a "mix-up" with management and that the power bill was not paid. She said the power would be back on by 3:30pm. As of 4:30pm, power had not been restored.

The City of Houston's code enforcement department is investigating the problem. A spokesman told me the city's legal department has gotten in touch with the owner, and that the owner is in the process of making a payment.

The complex is currently under a court order because of separate problems. Management must make changes in security by mid-December.