Hurricane Beryl hit Texas as a Category 1 early Monday, bringing heavy rains and wind speeds ranging from 74 to 96 miles per hour. The powerful hurricane, which turned into a tropical storm, knocked out power to more than 2 million Texas homes and businesses as heavy rains flooded streets, prompting first responders to rescue helpless residents.
Hurricane Beryl’s death toll has now reached 7 people in the Houston area.
— Peyton Yager (@peytonyager) July 9, 2024
3 people were killed by fallen trees, one died in a fire, two drowned, and a public servant died after being trapped in his vehicle in floodwaters on the way to work. @FOX4 #txwx pic.twitter.com/QPpy3S37Dd
Before moving to Texas, Beryl passed through parts of Mexico, including the Yucatan Peninsula, then moved to the Gulf of Mexico and the Southeast Caribbean, including Jamaica. The first storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, Beryl, fell from its powerful Category 5 when it hit the southeastern Caribbean five days ago to a Category 1 just before 4 a.m. Monday. It significantly weakened into a tropical storm but still took at least two lives on top of the seven lives lost during its rampage in the Caribbean.
According to AP News, The National Hurricane Center said damaging winds and flash flooding will continue as Beryl pushes inland.
Reports of high waters quickly closing streets in Houston have been under flood warnings since months prior, when stormwater flooded the area, requiring the rescue of more than 400 people from their homes, rooftops and flooded roads.
Kingston, Jamaica is currently experiencing the most intense wind and rain its has all day from Hurricane Beryl. #HurricaneBeryl #ObservingBeryl #Beryl #JamaicaObserver #AlwaysAhead pic.twitter.com/JDLeSL70Vn
— Jamaica Observer (@JamaicaObserver) July 3, 2024
CenterPoint Energy in Houston announced that 1.5 million homes and businesses were without power. Flood warnings span a significant portion of the Texas coast to alert as many residents as possible.
Residents in the area did their best to prepare for Beryl by boarding their windows.
During the turmoil, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the acting governor and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who is out of the country, said the fallen power lines cannot be fixed until wind speeds die down. He added that flooding could last for days and warned of rising storm water on waterlogged land.
Eva Costancio, 67, said, “We haven’t really slept.”
To help the victims of Hurricane Beryl, contact Supporting Every Life Beyond Yours INC. (SELBY), a relief drive based in New York City which provides immediate aid and assistance. Collection dates run from July 3 to July 31, and hours vary.
Other donation sites include BK Community Board 17 at 4112 Farragut Road, Council District Office 45 at 1434 Flatbush Avenue and Christ Ambassador Ministries at 5007 Beverly Road.
These organizations are requesting the following items: water, medicine, nonperishable food (most canned foods), and toiletries.
These donations will be sent to impacted areas such as St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Carriacou, Union Island and others.
