Texas 'Free Food' Post Amid Power Outage Causes Chaos Outside Grocery Store Dumpster

Officials have responded to the chaos caused by a Texas "free food" post, with more than 250 people clamoring for food that had been thrown out due to the power outage in Austin, Texas.

Travis County Constable Pct. 4 George Morales III posted photos of the incident on social media while informing residents that there was no distribution of free food at the grocery store. He added that it was not safe to eat, according to CNN.

Morales noted that the food was "rotten and spoiled," adding that it is unsafe to eat.

The grocery store, H-E-B, said that "it did not offer free food." The grocery store went on to say that the power outages caused a mass amount of rotten food.

More than 400,000 homes, businesses, and other electricity customers experienced a power outage after a deadly ice storm affected the state.

H-E-B went on to say that the store was unable to keep some perishable items in the proper places.

Chaos Over 'Free Food'

Someone noticed the food in the grocery store dumpster and posted about the "free food" on social media, according to Morales in a Facebook post.

More than 250 people arrived at the grocery store and started fighting in the dumpster over the discarded food, according to Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Videos of the scene showed people in the dumpster grabbing food and tossing it to carts.

Another video on Facebook showed a very full dumpster, with people throwing things around.

Morales said that the fight over the "free food" caused roadblocks near the grocery store, with deputies and police officers arriving at the scene and clearing the area.

H-E-B said that they had to follow strict food quality and safety standards, requiring them to dispose of some perishable items.

At least 66,000 Texas customers had no electricity as of Sunday morning.

Texas Power Outage

Austin Energy's distribution crew leader, Forrest Gifford, noted that the ice storm resulted in the most catastrophic damage he had seen in his 15-year career, according to Texas Tribune.

Gifford went on to say that downed trees, live wires, and other hazards made the work "slow-going and difficult."

Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for seven counties heavily affected by the severe weather, causing a power outage.

Abbott said in a statement that the state has provided all help requested throughout the severe weather, adding that they will continue to do so.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and Austin Energy officials waited more than 24 hours after the power outage to hold the first conference.

The city-owned utility said it could no longer promise when the electricity would be fully restored.

Almost 100,000 Austin customers had their electricity restored between Thursday and Saturday.

Wind chills were below negative 100 degrees Fahrenheit, with Mount Washington in New Hampshire recording the nation's lowest-ever reported wind chill of negative 109 degrees.

The severe ice storm caused at least 10 deaths in three states.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Texas ice storm: Governor issues disaster declaration - from WFAA