Beryl Update: 7 Dead in Greater Houston; 3 Million Power Outages
At Least 7 Dead as Hurricane Beryl Hits Greater Houston; 3 Million Without Power
Hurricane Beryl struck the Southeast Texas coast early Monday, causing significant destruction in the Greater Houston area and leaving at least seven people dead. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane at 3:50 a.m. near Matagorda, Texas, had maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour. It brought more than 13 inches of rain to Sugar Land, Texas.
As Beryl moved through East Texas, it was downgraded to a tropical storm at 10 a.m. Despite this, it continued to pose severe risks, including the potential for tornadoes. The National Weather Service confirmed tornado sightings near northeastern Louisiana. By 7 p.m., Beryl was further downgraded to a tropical depression.
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, acting in place of Governor Greg Abbott who is abroad, urged residents to exercise caution as power outages and flooding persist. Nearly 3 million homes and businesses experienced electricity loss due to the storm, and officials warn it could take up to a week to fully restore power.
The storm’s impact has been devastating. In Humble, a 53-year-old man was killed when a tree fell on his house. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez reported that the man was sitting with his family when the oak tree collapsed onto the roof. Thankfully, his family was unharmed.
In Houston, a 74-year-old grandmother named Maria Laredo was killed when a tree fell through the roof of her home. Her daughter-in-law recounted that the incident happened swiftly after Laredo had talked about the storm’s intensity.
A house fire in southeast Houston, ignited by downed power lines and lightning, claimed another life early Monday morning. Additionally, Houston Mayor John Whitmire reported that a 54-year-old Houston Police Department employee drowned after driving into floodwaters on Houston Avenue.
Highways in Downtown Houston remained submerged throughout the day, with emergency responders conducting over 15 high-water rescues. Rescue teams from local, state, and federal agencies have been mobilized for water rescues and recovery efforts. Charlie Abney, a captain with Dallas Fire-Rescue, described the task force’s efforts, which include rescuing people from flooded cars and homes. Firefighters from various North Texas departments have joined the efforts, demonstrating a strong sense of community.
As Beryl moves northeast through East Texas, it has caused heavy rain in Texarkana and other areas. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex saw only minor impacts, with just a few isolated showers. The storm will continue to progress through the Ohio Valley, moving north of Toronto, Canada, by early Thursday morning.
The immediate focus remains on recovery and restoration, with emergency crews working tirelessly to assist affected communities.