Houston firefighters rescuing Hurricane Beryl victims.
Recovery efforts are in full swing across Southeast Texas, including Houston, after Hurricane Beryl wreaked havoc on Monday, bringing damaging winds and heavy rainfall to the region.
The Category 1 hurricane claimed at least seven lives, according to Harris County officials.
The storm’s intense winds and torrential rain led to widespread destruction, uprooting trees, damaging homes, and flooding streets.
CenterPoint Energy is working diligently to restore electricity to more than 1 million customers.
High temperatures are expected throughout the week, exacerbating the situation.
Due to widespread power outages, boil water notices have been issued for Harris County MUD 421 and Harris County FWSD 45.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality advises that children, seniors, and individuals with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria and should follow boiling guidelines for drinking water.
To ensure the destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice-making should be boiled and cooled before use.
This measure is critical in preventing waterborne diseases during this vulnerable period.
Hurricane Beryl has also affected the Houston Ship Channel industries. LyondellBasell, one of the Gulf Coast’s largest petrochemical facilities, reported flaring at its Channelview complex.
The company alerted residents about the potential visibility of a bright orange flame, black smoke, or rumbling noise, assuring that the flaring would be minimized as quickly as possible.
Plants often flare excess gases when their operations are disrupted during a storm.
LyondellBasell’s Channelview complex, which sits about 20 miles east of downtown Houston, manufactures raw materials for a variety of plastics.
The disruption in operations could have broader implications for the supply chain and production schedules.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, acting as governor while Greg Abbott is on an international business trip, will host a press conference in Dickinson today at 1 p.m.
Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd and local officials will provide updates on the state’s response to Hurricane Beryl.
Restoration efforts are expected to take several days, with Entergy Texas crews working to restore power to over 240,000 customers.
Patrick, along with other state officials, acknowledged the massive scope of the restoration efforts needed.
“This is a multi-day effort, and we are committed to bringing back normalcy as swiftly and safely as possible,” he said. The press conference will be held at the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management.
Houston Airports have resumed operations after the storm caused hundreds of flight cancellations at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport.
Though some flights resumed Monday night from the Houston airport, operations remain limited. Due to a travel waiver policy, passengers will be able to rebook any flights scheduled between July 7 to July 9 for no additional cost.
As operations resume, Houston Airports cautioned travelers to verify their flight status and be aware of the risks associated with traveling to the airport.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority in Harris County will modify services as recovery work continues. All Park & Ride, METRORail, and HOV/HOT lane services will remain suspended Tuesday, with some local bus services resuming at 8 a.m. METROLift and curb2curb services will also resume at 8 a.m.
“Our crews are continuously assessing conditions and will work diligently to identify and address any issues caused by the storm,” METRO said in a statement.
“We are committed to providing safe and reliable transportation and will fully resume service when it is possible to safely do so.”
As of Tuesday morning, over 1 million customers remain without power, according to CenterPoint’s Outage Tracker.
The company has mobilized nearly 12,000 field resources to restore service as quickly and safely as possible, prioritizing essential facilities critical to health and public safety.
Houston residents face the added challenge of high humidity and heat in the aftermath of the storm.
While peak temperatures are expected to stay below 91 degrees, elevated humidity levels will make it feel much hotter, with heat index values reaching 101 degrees.
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for all of Southeast Texas from 7 a.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Wednesday, lowering its heat index threshold to 105 degrees due to the unusual circumstances.
The heat poses a significant risk of heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion or heatstroke.
Residents are advised to stay hydrated, avoid strenuous outdoor activities, and seek air-conditioned environments.
The combination of high humidity and power outages could lead to dangerous conditions, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Public Health Advisory
Because of these unusual circumstances, the weather service was lowering its heat index threshold to 105 degrees and putting all of Southeast Texas under a heat advisory from 7 a.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Wednesday.
Houston residents on Tuesday won’t have a chance to celebrate surviving Hurricane Beryl’s rampage through the Greater Houston area on Monday.
Instead, Beryl landed one last gut punch before fleeing to the northeast Monday: knocking out power to more than 2 million utility customers.
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