Hurricane Beryl Hits Texas, Leaving Over a Million Without Power
HOUSTON (AP) — Hurricane Beryl struck Texas early Monday, leaving nearly 3 million homes and businesses without power, pouring heavy rain, and resulting in at least three fatalities as it moved eastward and weakened into a tropical depression, according to the National Hurricane Center. The swift storm is expected to impact several more states in the coming days.
Texas officials have warned that restoring power could take several days after Beryl, initially a Category 1 hurricane, hit the state, toppling 10 transmission lines and downing trees that fell on power lines.
The storm, which later downgraded to a tropical storm and then a tropical depression, had already caused significant destruction in Mexico and the Caribbean as a Category 5 hurricane last weekend. Despite its weakened state, Beryl’s winds and rain were sufficient to fell hundreds of waterlogged trees and strand numerous vehicles on flooded roads.
As Beryl moved inland, it threatened to produce tornadoes. The National Weather Service confirmed tornado sightings in northeastern Louisiana. Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington reported that a woman died in Benton when a tree fell on her home.
In preparation for Beryl, Jimmy May boarded up windows on Sunday, July 7, 2024, in Port Lavaca, Texas. “We’re not past any difficult conditions,” Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said, acting as governor while Gov. Greg Abbott is abroad, indicating that restoring power would take multiple days.
Houston was significantly affected, as CenterPoint Energy reported over 2 million homes and businesses without power in and around the fourth-largest U.S. city. Patrick stated that additional workers were being brought in to prioritize power restoration for critical places such as nursing homes.
Two people were killed by falling trees, and a civilian employee of the Houston Police Department drowned under a highway overpass, according to Houston Mayor John Whitmire. There were no immediate reports of extensive structural damage.
The loss of power was a familiar situation for Houston, which had experienced powerful storms in May that resulted in eight deaths and left nearly 1 million without power.
Residents like Eva Costancio in Rosenberg, a Houston suburb, faced power outages for several hours and worried about food spoilage. “We haven’t really slept,” said Costancio, 67.
Houston and Harris County officials promised swift action to restore power, especially with high summer temperatures expected. The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory, forecasting a heat index up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
State emergency operations chief Nim Kidd said Texas would be ready to open cooling centers and distribute food and water.
Beryl’s rains continued to flood Houston and other coastal areas, with emergency crews conducting numerous water rescues. One rescue involved saving a man from the roof of his truck, which was caught in quick-moving waters. Houston officials reported at least 25 water rescues by Monday afternoon.
First responders risked their lives to help those stranded, Mayor Whitmire said. Several people, like Javier Mejia, witnessed various vehicles stranded by high waters, a common sight in flood-prone Houston.
As chainsaws buzzed throughout the city, residents began clearing fallen branches blocking streets and walkways. Patrick warned that flooding might persist for days due to continuous rain on saturated ground.
President Joe Biden received regular updates on Beryl, preparing search and rescue teams and gathering supplies like bottled water, meals, and generators. Several companies in the area flared excess gases due to power disruptions, including Marathon Petroleum Corp. and Formosa Plastics Corporation.
Beryl, the earliest Category 5 hurricane to form in the Atlantic, had already caused significant damage in the Caribbean, including 11 deaths and over $6.4 million in destroyed crops and infrastructure in Jamaica.
Louisiana faced heavy rain and potential flash flooding, with the National Weather Service confirming tornado sightings and issuing warnings. Missouri, already experiencing a wet summer, prepared for Beryl’s arrival with rivers and creeks at high levels following unrelated heavy rains.
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AP reporters Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas; Corey Williams in Detroit; Julie Walker in New York; Melina Walling in Chicago; and Jeff Martin in Atlanta contributed to this report.