MATAGORDA, Texas (AP) — Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Texas early on Monday, bringing heavy rains and powerful winds that caused widespread power outages affecting 1.5 million homes and businesses. Streets were flooded with rapidly rising waters, prompting first responders to rescue stranded residents.
Beryl had previously caused devastation in parts of Mexico and the Caribbean before turning towards Texas. After hitting land as a Category 1 hurricane just before 4 a.m., it weakened to a tropical storm approximately five hours later. The National Hurricane Center warned that damaging winds and flash flooding would persist as Beryl continues to move inland, with reports of at least one death.
The storm quickly led to street closures in storm-weary Houston, which was already under flood warnings due to heavy storms in recent months that had washed out neighborhoods.
CenterPoint Energy in Houston reported the massive power outages, while flood warnings were issued along the Texas coast. The storm surge pushed water ashore and heavy rain continued to fall further inland.
Police in Rosenberg urged residents to stay off the roads, as one of their high-water vehicles was hit by a falling tree during a rescue operation. Video footage showed significant street flooding in Galveston, and Houston remained under a flash flood warning as the rain persisted.
In Freeport, Patti Richardson described the intense storm she was enduring in her 123-year-old house, expressing hope that everything would hold together amidst the strong winds and shaking structure.
After causing damage in Mexico, Beryl strengthened into a hurricane again late Sunday before hitting Texas with top sustained winds of 80 mph. Thousands of flights were cancelled at Houston’s airports.
Beryl, an early Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, left a trail of destruction in the Caribbean before reaching Texas, with at least 11 reported deaths. The storm’s rapid intensification was attributed to the record warm waters of the Atlantic.
Texas officials urged coastal residents to prepare for potential flooding, heavy rain, and strong winds. Evacuations were advised in low-lying areas, and beach camping was prohibited.
The hurricane warning area extended to several coastal areas including where Hurricane Harvey hit in 2017. Louisiana also braced for heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding.
People along the Texas coast took precautions and followed evacuation orders, while uncertainty remained about the storm’s intensity. The White House announced that FEMA had deployed resources along the coast to assist with the emergency response.
Beryl had caused damage in Mexico and other Caribbean countries before hitting Texas, with reports of fatalities in several regions.
Valerie Gonzalez reported from McAllen, Texas. Associated Press reporters Corey Williams in Detroit, Valerie Gonzales in McAllen, Texas, Margery A. Beck in Omaha, Nebraska, Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City and Julie Walker in New York contributed.
