The impact of Tropical Storm Beryl continues to be felt across Texas as officials confirm a third death related to the storm. Initially making landfall as a Category 1 hurricane, Beryl has now been downgraded to a tropical storm but continues to bring heavy rain and strong winds as it moves northeast through the state.

Key Updates:

• Power Restoration Efforts: CenterPoint Energy expects to restore power to 1 million customers by Wednesday. As of Monday evening, approximately 285,000 customers had their power restored out of the 2.7 million affected by the storm.
• Deaths Reported: Three fatalities have been confirmed, including two people in Harris County who were killed by falling trees and a City of Houston employee who drowned in a flooded underpass.
• Emergency Response: State officials, including Acting Governor Dan Patrick, are coordinating efforts to manage the aftermath, focusing on power restoration and providing shelter and cooling centres for those affected.
• Tornado Warnings: The National Hurricane Center has warned about tornadoes in parts of East Texas and Louisiana.
• Flooding and High Winds: Houston and surrounding areas continue to face severe weather conditions, prompting officials to urge residents to stay off the roads and shelter in place.

Details of the Incident:

• Power Outages: The storm caused widespread power outages affecting over 2.7 million Texans. CenterPoint Energy has mobilized restoration crews, with an expected full restoration timeline extending over several days.
• Fatalities: The first two deaths occurred in separate incidents in Harris County when trees fell on residences. The third confirmed death was a City of Houston employee who drowned. A fourth death reported by the Houston Chronicle remains unconfirmed as storm-related.
• Damage Assessment: Officials are still assessing the full extent of the damage. High winds and flooding have caused significant destruction, with many areas still without power and phone service.

Additional Information:

• Refineries and Pollution: Some refineries reported unintentional emissions due to shutdowns. Freeport LNG reported over 8,000 pounds of air pollution released during the storm.
• Precautions: Officials advise residents to avoid floodwaters and downed power lines and use generators safely to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Response and Recovery: Cooling centres and shelters are being set up, and state and federal assistance is being coordinated to aid in recovery efforts.

Beryl made landfall near Matagorda at around 4 a.m. Monday with winds of 80 miles per hour, causing extensive damage and power outages. The storm’s path is expected to continue affecting parts of East Texas before moving out of the state.

Residents are urged to stay informed and follow local advisories as recovery efforts continue.