Table of Contents
Catastrophic Weather Conditions
Early on Monday, Hurricane Beryl made landfall in eastern Texas, bringing with it a potentially fatal storm surge, deluges of rain, and wind gusts reaching 84 mph in the Houston region. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), these extreme weather conditions resulted in a great deal of disruption and required many rescue missions.
Winds from #Beryl causing a lot of damage in Lake Jackson. pic.twitter.com/NfUFZSkF5s
— Robert Arnold (@KPRC2Robert) July 8, 2024
Damage from Hurricane Beryl at Sargent Beach, TX #HurricaneBeryl#Beryl#txwxpic.twitter.com/kNmClCf92v
— Brian Emfinger (@brianemfinger) July 8, 2024
Power Outages
In eastern Texas, the storm knocked out electricity to approximately 2.2 million consumers. The main power provider in the region, CenterPoint Energy, reported 5,571 current outages. Nearly 2.7 million households and businesses in Texas had power outages, according to confirmation from PowerOutage.us.
League City crews are checking all areas for rain and wind damage from Beryl. If you see a downed power line, traffic light outage, tree limbs blocking roadways, or flooded roadways, call Public Works at 281-554-1086. Only call 911 if there is a fire or medical emergency. pic.twitter.com/ipw8emzxoL
— League City, Texas (@LeagueCityTX) July 8, 2024
Fatalities
According to reports from USA Today and CNN, the hurricane resulted in at least two fatalities. A man was murdered in suburban Harris County, northeast of Houston, when a tree crashed on his house and crushed him beneath the rubble. Ed Gonzalez, the Harris County Sheriff, verified the occurrence. Another fatality occurred in northern Harris County when a tree fell on a 74-year-old woman’s home.
Rescue Operations
People who were stuck in their automobiles and residences were aggressively rescued by emergency personnel from many counties. Sheriff Gonzalez advised locals to avoid the roadways because of the severe rain and dangerous circumstances.
Wind and Structural Damage
At 4 a.m. Central Time, Beryl made ashore close to Matagorda, with gusts that remained strong for nearly an hour. After five hours, the winds slowed to seventy miles per hour, but they were still strong enough to topple trees and bring down power lines. Winds at over ninety miles per hour tore off roofs in Surfside Beach and seriously damaged structures.
Honestly shocked at the amount of damage here on Surfside Beach, TX! #txwx#berylpic.twitter.com/bjb50KATq3
— Stephen Jones (@Tornado_Steejo) July 8, 2024
Storm damage in our yard #Berylpic.twitter.com/KOf9ApeUnX
— texasbug (@texasbug) July 8, 2024
Impact in the Caribbean and Mexico
Beryl wreaked havoc throughout the Caribbean before making landfall in Texas, resulting in at least 11 fatalities and significant damage to several islands’ infrastructure. In history, it was the first Category 5 storm. Nine people lost their lives as a result of the hurricane last week as it moved over Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
Current Status
After touching down in Texas, Beryl has subsided into a tropical storm. Even with the downgrade, officials continue to issue warnings about hazardous flash flooding and persistent, heavy rain as the storm approaches Texas. Houston Mayor John Whitmire referred to the situation as “an emergency” and asked everyone to stay indoors during a press conference on Monday. There are now destructive winds and heavy rains across a growing portion of southwest Louisiana and eastern Texas.