Storm - Several dead in Texas after storm "Beryl"
Hurricane "Beryl" has taken several lives in the Southern USA. At least seven people have lost their lives, including through uprooted trees, according to the "Houston Chronicle" and CNN, citing official reports.
Among the dead was a police officer in Houston, who drowned in his car on his way to work, Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced at a press conference. One person was also reported dead in the neighboring state of Louisiana, CNN reported.
US President Joe Biden expressed condolences to the affected and pledged support to the people of Texas. "We thank all first responders and will be with the people of Texas every step of the way," he wrote on the platform X.
Millions Without Power
"Beryl" made landfall near the Texas town of Matagorda as a Category 1 hurricane early Monday morning (local time), but then weakened. Matagorda is approximately 130 kilometers southwest of the megacity Houston.
Over 2.3 million households were still without power during the night to Tuesday (local time), according to data from poweroutage.us. Nearly three million households had lost power on Monday, according to Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. It is expected to take several days to restore power, the utility company announced.
Damaged Cities, Dead Animals
Images from the affected areas showed flooded streets, uprooted trees, and power lines. According to the Houston SPCA animal shelter, hundreds of herons had fallen from their nests during the storm and drowned.
Hurricane "Beryl" has weakened but continues to cause heavy rain as a tropical depression in eastern Texas and neighboring states Louisiana and Arkansas, the US Hurricane Center reported. Tornados are also possible. According to meteorologists, "Beryl" is expected to continue moving northeastward and lose strength.
A Week of Destruction
"Beryl" has been causing destruction in the region for over a week. He was the first hurricane of the current hurricane season, which begins in the Atlantic on June 1 and ends on November 30. In the southeastern Caribbean, "Beryl" reached the highest hurricane strength, Category 5, with sustained winds of more than 251 kilometers per hour. He passed over several islands in the Lesser Antilles, made landfall on the eastern Mexican peninsula of Yucatan, and then moved through the Gulf of Mexico.
At least eleven people have died in the Caribbean region, including three in Venezuela. According to the governments of Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, more than 90% of the houses in some areas were damaged or destroyed. Jamaica also experienced extensive damage and widespread power outages in some areas.
Never before in the Atlantic hurricane season had such a powerful storm struck so early. Warmer ocean water due to climate change increases the likelihood of strong hurricanes.
- Despite the devastation caused by Hurricane "Beryl" in Texas, numerous residents have refused to leave their cars in the storm's path, perhaps hoping to protect their vehicles from potential looters.
- The US President, Joe Biden, has also recently visited Texas to assess the damage caused by Hurricane "Dolly" in 2008, which hit the state's coast near Matagorda.
- After experiencing a hurricane, many residents of the affected areas might consider moving to a less hurricane-prone state, such as Jamaica, which is located farther away from the hurricane belt in the Caribbean.
- The cleanup efforts following Hurricane "Beryl" have been complicated by the fact that the storm has left a trail of dead animals in its wake, including hundreds of herons in Houston.
- The US government has sent emergency relief supplies to Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, which was also hit by Hurricane "Beryl," to help the country's efforts in recovering from the storm's aftermath.
- CNN reported that the widespread power outages in Texas during Hurricane "Beryl" had led to a pressing need for backup generators, especially in hospitals and nursing homes where patients require life-sustaining equipment.
- The US President Joe Biden has pledged to help Texas rebuild after Hurricane "Beryl" and has announced plans to visit the affected areas in the near future to assess the damage and offer his support.
- In response to the widespread power outages in Texas, US President Joe Biden has urged the utility companies to prioritize restoring power to hospitals, nursing homes, and other critical infrastructure before focusing on residential areas.
- Hurricane "Beryl" has disrupted the US elections in staging areas like Houston, where absentee ballot delivery has been hindered by the storm's aftermath, leading to concerns about voter disenfranchisement.
- The discovery of several bodies in the flooded streets of Houston during and after Hurricane "Beryl" has called attention to the importance of having clear emergency evacuation plans and well-equipped search-and-rescue teams in place for such natural disasters.
