Three large holes now punctuate the roof of NRG Stadium in Houston. The home of Houston’s NFL team, the Texans, sustained damage during Hurricane Beryl this week. The stadium’s roof was closed to protect the interior of NRG Stadium from wind and rain damage, and instead, it took the brunt of the force itself.
NRG Stadium was actually one of the first NFL stadiums to be built with a retractable roof. The 125,000-square-foot space has been a leader in stadium infrastructure technology. Others like the current Bill’s Arena and Lambeau Field are exposed to the elements. This won't be the first time NRG has need repairs to it's roof after a big storm. Hurrican Ike also damaged the roof in 2008.
Damage assessments are underway at the stadium, but with millions across Texas still without power and temperatures rising, it is set to be a difficult repair job.
Despite the damage to the roof, NRG Stadium is opening its parking lots and doors to Houstonians displaced by the hurricane. Up to 250 people displaced by the hurricane, but unable to stay in the hospital, will be housed at NRG. Many of the people being discharged from the hospital cannot go home, as more than 1 million Houstonians are still without power. Now, there are trailers dotting the NRG parking lot and a large emergency medical tent set up.
This move will give more space to the local hospitals so they can continue to care for the critical cases coming in from across Houston.
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Nim Kidd, the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, told the Houston Chronicle that “29 hospitals in the region were operating under internal disaster protocols on Tuesday. The decision on which patients to send to the NRG Arena facility will be made by physicians, hospitals, patients and families.”
Cooling centers are also opening at NRG and across Houston as the temperatures continue to rise. The lieutenant governor announced Tuesday evening that distribution centers for basic needs would accompany the cooling centers.
The next event scheduled at the stadium is the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus on July 19.
