By: Claire Liu
As of July 8, Tropical Storm Beryl had hit Houston hard. Texans are faced with an extremely disastrous hurricane, which is destroying houses, knocking down trees, flooding the city, and disabling electricity use. The Lone Star state may never be the same after this storm.
Beryl traveled through regions south of Texas, like Central America and Mexico to reach Houston. At that time, winds were blowing over 90 miles per hour from the lower area of Texas, and the storm eventually made its way to the center in the span of only a couple hours. By then, the police and weather departments had already ushered a warning for everyone to return indoors and to take cover. Rainfall was extremely heavy, with about three to eight inches showering the city’s streets and highways. Before they realized, Texans weren’t just facing another tropical storm–They were facing a category 5 hurricane.
As Beryl moved Northeast from Texas and towards Louisiana and Arkansas, its lasting effects on Houston left the city in ruins. Not only do the people still have no electricity, but the storm had led to more than 1.5 million Texans experiencing a power outage, largely on the east side. 1,300 flights were canceled, and any source of transportation was considered extremely risky and dangerous. People were advised to remain indoors as the highways and roads were blocked with debris and flooded with several feet deep water. Some determined drivers decide d the risk was worth it to bring their vehicles out onto the waterlogged streets. Unfortunate ones had to have their cars fished out by patrolling officers on boats.
This dangerous storm has managed to kill 4 unlucky people in the state, and Texas is hoping there won’t be more. 2 were killed by trees collapsing onto their house with them inside, one a 74-year-old and the other a man in the Atascocita area. John Whitmore, Mayor of Houston reported that another had been killed by a fire caused by lightning, and one who drowned in their car. Those are all tragic deaths caused by Hurricane Beryl, which could potentially damage and harm more unfortunate victims.
With hurricane season in Texas just beginning, Beryl is a heck of a storm to start the season off. The state has still not recovered, citizens are trying their best to maintain the city. Especially in an area as prone to storms as Texas, the people will have to prepare for the disasters to come that are sure to threaten the area once again.
Image Credit by Nikolett Emmert