Burger shop app sees surge in downloads after helping identify areas affected by hurricane power outages

In early July 2024, Hurricane Beryl struck Texas, USA, causing great damage with its fierce winds and heavy rains. Beryl caused many households in Houston , the largest city in Texas, to lose power, but because the power company did not provide sufficient information, the 'Hamburger Shop App' was used to identify areas with power outages.

Texans Outraged After Whataburger App Works Better Than Power Company - Newsweek
https://www.newsweek.com/texans-outraged-whataburger-app-works-better-centerpoint-energy-1922934

Whataburger app becomes unlikely to power outage map after Houston hurricane | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2024/07/09/whataburger-app-becomes-unlikely-power-outage-map-after-houston-hurricane/

Hurricane Beryl brought record-breaking rain and winds to southeast Texas on July 8, causing approximately 1.8 million homes in Houston to lose power at one point. Many of these homes were customers of CenterPoint Energy , Houston's main power company, but CenterPoint Energy's online outage tracker was offline, making it difficult to determine how widespread the outages were and how much had been restored.

One app that caught people's attention was that of Whataburger , a hamburger chain based in San Antonio , Texas. The Whataburger app has a map of the operating status of its stores, and by checking the operating status map of Whataburger restaurants throughout Texas, including the Houston area, you can determine which restaurants are experiencing power outages. According to Newsweek, an overseas media outlet, Whataburger has 127 restaurants in the Houston area.

In the embedded post below, posted by X (formerly Twitter) user BBQ Bryan, you can see that open stores are marked in orange and closed stores are marked in gray.

The Whataburger app works as a power outage tracker, handy since the electric company doesn't show a map.
Still nearly 1.9 million power outages. pic.twitter.com/d8srWmw1oV

— BBQ Bryan (@BBQBryan) July 9, 2024

The post attracted so much attention that downloads of the Whataburger app skyrocketed, from 40th place in the food and beverage category three weeks ago to 16th place.

In response to the situation, Whataburger's official X account responded to BBQ Bryan, saying, 'Our app has uses we haven't even thought of! We hope you and everyone else is safe!'

Well there's a use for our app we didn't think of! We hope you and everyone else are okay!

Can you DM us a good mailing address? We'd love to send you something for using the app so creatively!

— Whataburger® (@Whataburger) July 9, 2024

'Whataburger is your friend, in good times and bad. We're pleased that the Whataburger app has helped Houston residents understand where power is available in the city,' Whataburger CEO Ed Nelson told Newsweek. He added that Whataburger's operating status is only a guide, so it's best to contact your local power company to find out the exact situation.

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