HOUSTON (AP) — Many residents in Texas, left without power by Hurricane Beryl, are now facing days without air conditioning as dangerous heat hits the region on Tuesday. The storm killed several people and caused flooding.
A heat advisory is in place until Wednesday in the Houston area and surrounding areas, with temperatures expected to reach into the 90s (above 32.2 Celsius) and humidity making it feel like 105 degrees (40.5 Celsius). This loss of power could create hazardous conditions, warns the National Weather Service.
Over 2.3 million homes and businesses in the Houston area were without electricity on Tuesday morning, a decrease from the peak of over 2.7 million on Monday, according to PowerOutage.us.
“Houstonians need to be aware that we are working tirelessly to keep you safe,” said Houston Mayor John Whitmire on Monday, urging residents to be cautious of high water, stay hydrated, and check on their neighbors.
Beryl has resulted in at least seven deaths, with one in Louisiana and six in Texas, officials reported.
The storm weakened after landfall and by late Tuesday morning, it was a post-tropical cyclone centered over northeastern Arkansas, moving northeast with maximum sustained winds near 30 mph (48 kph), as per the weather service. It’s not expected to strengthen significantly in the next two days.
The storm is projected to bring heavy rains and potential flash flooding from the lower and mid-Mississippi Valley to the Great Lakes until Wednesday, according to the weather service.
Several tornadoes were possible in Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, forecasters mentioned.
It’s anticipated that power could take days to fully restore in Texas after the storm caused 10 transmission lines to fall. Top priorities for power restoration include nursing homes and assisted living centers, as stated by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who is currently acting as governor while Gov. Greg Abbott is out of the country.
In May, powerful storms in the region resulted in eight deaths, nearly 1 million without power, and flooded streets. Residents affected by Beryl, now experiencing power outages, are doing their best to cope.
“We haven’t been able to sleep,” said Eva Costancio, looking at a fallen tree over electric lines in Rosenberg, a Houston suburb. Costancio expressed concern about food spoilage due to the power outage.
The state is setting up cooling centers, along with food and water distribution centers, noted Nim Kidd, chief of state emergency operations.
Beryl’s heavy rains caused some streets to be washed out by earlier storms. Houston officials reported at least 25 water rescues on Monday, mostly for people stranded in floodwaters.
Many streets and neighborhoods in Houston were covered in fallen branches and debris. Residents were seen using chainsaws to clear up fallen trees blocking roads and sidewalks. Some companies with refineries reported that the power disruptions necessitated the flaring of gases.
Beryl, the earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, resulted in at least 11 deaths as it moved through the Caribbean to Texas. In Jamaica, officials mentioned that residents will face food shortages after Beryl destroyed over $6.4 million in crops and infrastructure.
Contributors to this report include Associated Press reporters Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas; Corey Williams in Detroit; Julie Walker in New York; Melina Walling in Chicago; Jeff Martin in Atlanta; and Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.
