HOUSTON – The hum of chainsaws and generators echoed through communities in the Houston metro and East Texas a day after the historic Hurricane Beryl made its third and final landfall, disabling power for around 2.7 million customers and resulting in at least eight deaths in the U.S.
Beryl hit near Matagorda, Texas, early Monday morning as a powerful Category 1 hurricane, battering the region with wind gusts over 90 mph, a storm surge of 3-6 feet, and heavy rain.
The storm also triggered several tornadoes in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas as it moved inland.
Temperatures in the region are expected to soar on Tuesday, with heat indices exceeding 100 degrees in many storm-hit areas. The National Weather Service in Houston has issued a Heat Advisory due to the widespread power outages and lack of air conditioning, prompting many to seek ways to stay cool.
Hurricane Beryl’s effects have led to at least eight deaths in the U.S., increasing the total fatalities along its path from the Windward Islands to the U.S. to at least 19. Seven of these deaths occurred in the Houston area, involving incidents like fallen trees and drownings, including the death of a Houston Police Department information security officer. In Louisiana, a woman died when a tree fell on her home in Benton.
Utility crews are striving to restore power to the 2.7 million affected customers, with more than 2.3 million Texans still in the dark. CenterPoint Energy aims to restore power to 1 million customers by Wednesday’s end, though debris clearance and safety conditions are essential before power can be restored.
Homes have been destroyed, and roads severely damaged. Hurricane Beryl made landfall early Monday morning, causing extensive destruction, with large boulders and fallen trees creating hazardous conditions. College Station, Texas, recorded a peak gust of 99 mph, with numerous gusts over 80 mph across Houston.
Emergency officials have urged residents to stay indoors due to the dangerous conditions. Schools, courthouses, all Port Houston terminals, and some medical facilities remain closed, with METRO Houston suspending some services.
The hurricane has also left behind significant damage in Galveston, a popular travel destination. The island recorded a top wind gust of 86 mph and a storm surge reaching 5.4 feet above the mean high water level, marking the third-highest surge on record.
FOX Weather correspondents reported extensive damage in Galveston, with homes destroyed, pieces of house siding scattered, and numerous downed power lines.
Hurricane Beryl’s path of destruction across the Caribbean included a treacherous 10-day journey beginning June 29 in the Atlantic. It first struck the Windward Islands as a Category 4 hurricane, then impacted Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, and made a second landfall on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula as a Category 2 hurricane, leaving at least 11 dead across the region.