Chaos in Austin amid power outages as residents seen dumpster diving at H-E-B grocery store

Hundreds of people were seen dumpster diving and fighting over “free food” that was discarded by an H-E-B store after a power outage on Thursday. 

An official in Travis County, Texas, is warning the public not to eat the food retrieved from dumpsters outside the store, which was spoiled and unsafe for consumption.

Witnesses said grocery store employees were seen tossing meat and other perishable foods after a power outage at the store caused them to start to go bad, Fox 7 Austin reported. 

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Spoiled food discarded from the H-E-B Grocery store on I-35 and William Cannon in Austin, Texas.  (Travis County Precinct 4 Constable / Fox News)

Deputies with the Travis County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office and Austin Police Department worked to clear the area after more than 250 people were fooled into believing that spoiled food thrown away in dumpsters was “free.”  (Travis County Precinct 4 Constable.)

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But someone posted on social media that there was “free food” at the store. Soon after, more than 250 people showed up and began fighting over rotting trash, according to Travis County Precinct 4 Constable George Morales. 

“This is not free food!” Morales warned on Facebook. “The food is rotten and spoiled, and is unsafe to eat.”

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Police officers work to clear traffic caused by hundreds of people who tried to claim “free food” from the H-E-B Grocery store dumpsters. (Travis County Precinct 4 Constable / Fox News)

Morales said that deputies with Precinct 4 and the Austin Police Department responded to roads that were gridlocked because of the misinformation on social media. Police worked to clear the area.

“If you know someone that got food, let them know it is not safe,” Morales said.

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The Mayor of Austin apologized Friday after widespread power outages stretched into a third day following a deadly winter storm that has sent city officials scrambling and unable to say when the power will be back on.

“The city let its citizens down. The situation is unacceptable to the community, and it’s unacceptable to me,” said Mayor Kirk Watson, a Democrat who took office in January. “And I’m sorry.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.