Hurricane Beryl’s impact continues as power slowly returns to the Houston area. The storm, which struck the region with force, left over 2.7 million homes and businesses without electricity. By Tuesday morning, restoration efforts had reduced the number of outages to approximately 2.3 million, though many residents remain without power.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire emphasized ongoing efforts to ensure public safety, urging residents to stay home due to dangerous conditions, including downed power lines and non-functioning traffic lights.
Beryl, now weakened to a tropical depression, was located 95 miles north of Shreveport, Louisiana, as of Tuesday morning. With sustained winds of 30 mph, the storm is moving northeast and is expected to bring heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding from the Mississippi Valley to the Great Lakes.
Floodwaters rise as Beryl moves northeast, leaving widespread destruction.Flood watches are in effect for Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, with tornadoes possible in parts of the Mid-South and Midwest. The storm has spawned tornadoes in northeastern Louisiana, resulting in at least one fatality.
Texas officials warn that full power restoration may take several days, particularly after Beryl toppled transmission lines and uprooted trees. The storm, although less intense than its earlier Category 5 form, caused significant damage, including widespread flooding and downed trees.
Temperatures in Houston are expected to reach the 90s on Tuesday, with a heat index possibly hitting 105 degrees. Cooling centers and emergency resources are being made available to assist those affected by the storm.
President Biden has assured Houston officials of federal support in the recovery efforts. As Beryl moves northeast, residents across several states remain on high alert for severe weather and continued flooding risks.