Tropical Storm Beryl caused havoc in southeast Texas, leading to at least four fatalities, flooding highways, closing oil ports, and canceling thousands of flights. With sustained winds of over 80 mph, Beryl, the season’s earliest Category 5 hurricane on record, made landfall in Matagorda, Texas. Power outages affected over 2.7 million homes and businesses, and tornadoes were possible in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas, with several reported warnings.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire described the city’s dire situation, with floodwaters exceeding 10 inches and requests for first responders for life-saving rescues across the region. The storm led to casualties due to tree damage and flooding, as well as a fire caused by lightning. Beryl’s impact disrupted normal life in southeastern Texas, with heavy rain causing water rescues and widespread flooding, making travel unsafe and necessitating emergency response efforts.
The aftermath of Beryl in Texas left over 2.7 million residents without power, impacting transportation, energy export, and safety measures. The storm’s strength and speed caught many residents off guard, with experts highlighting the unprecedented nature of Beryl and the potential for further extreme weather events. As Texas faces the challenges of recovery and rebuilding, residents and officials prepare for ongoing impacts such as heat exhaustion and dangerous conditions due to power outages and flooding.
