A powerful tropical storm named Beryl made its mark on south-east Texas on Monday, bringing with it howling winds and torrential rains that caused the deaths of at least three people. The storm, which had already carved a path of destruction through the Caribbean as a category 5 hurricane, caused widespread disruption and damage to the region’s oil and energy infrastructure.
In the early hours of Monday morning, the storm made landfall near Matagorda, a coastal town about 95 miles south of Houston. Sustained winds of 75mph and torrential rains led to catastrophic flooding and power outages, with more than 2.5m homes and businesses affected. The storm’s fury was not limited to Texas, as it had already claimed lives in the Caribbean and caused widespread destruction in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula.
Local officials reported three fatalities, including a 53-year-old man and a 74-year-old woman who were killed by trees that fell on their homes, and a third person who drowned. Hundreds of trees were knocked down, stranding dozens of cars on flooded roadways and knocking out power to entire neighborhoods.
The storm’s arrival was met with warnings from authorities that it could be a deadly storm for communities in its path. Residents had rushed to board up windows and stock up on fuel and other essential supplies before the storm’s arrival.
The storm’s winds and rains continued to batter the region throughout the day, with the city of Houston affected particularly badly. Cars were submerged in floodwaters, and major freeways were rendered impassable due to road flooding. The city’s authorities worked to evacuate flooded areas, rescuing those stranded by the storm.
Effects of Hurricane BerylThe storm’s impact on Texas’s oil and energy industry was significant, with several counties under flash-flood warnings and major oil-shipping ports closing ahead of the storm. The disruption to crude oil exports and shipments to refineries and motor fuel from the plants could have significant long-term consequences.
As the storm moves inland, it is expected to weaken into a tropical storm and then a depression, but not before bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds to other parts of the country. The National Hurricane Center warned that the storm’s impact is not yet over, and residents are advised to remain vigilant.
The story of Beryl serves as a worrying omen for the rest of the hurricane season, which is expected to be hyperactive. Scientists warn that the storm’s arrival and peak strength are ominous signs, and that the region can expect more storms of this nature in the coming weeks and months.