Texas cleans up after deadly Beryl slams state before tracking north as post-tropical cyclone
Beryl was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone after it made landfall in Texas on Monday morning as a hurricane, with its path showing it to have impacts across the central US throughout the week
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Your support makes all the difference.Eight people have died, and millions more in Texas could be left without power for days while Beryl moves northeast.
After making landfall in the United States as a Category 1 hurricane on the coast of Matagorda on Monday morning, Beryl was downgraded to Tropical Storm then to a Depression and now as a post-tropical cyclone as it traversed inland across eastern Texas, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds and life-threatening conditions.
Around eight people are believed to be dead as a result of the storm, including seven in Texas and one in Louisiana.
This includes a civilian employee of the Houston Police Department, who was killed when he was trapped in flood waters under a highway overpass, Houston Mayor John Whitmire said.
More than 2.2 million customers were without power around Houston, the nation’s fourth-largest city, after Beryl blew through, according to CenterPoint Energy.
Acting Texas Governor Dan Patrick said the electric company was bringing in additional workers to help restore power more quickly.
Beryl has already left a trail of destruction as a Category 5 hurricane through Mexico and the Caribbean.
Parts of the Midwest could see tornadoes, while the northeastern US could be hit with flash floods.
Travel advice amid Beryl: Will travel insurance help?
Christina Tunnah, general manager of Americas for World Nomads, said; “If Hurricane Beryl derails your travel plans, the first point of call should be your airline or travel provider as they may provide aid. The same goes if your accommodation is impacted by the disaster.
“Travel insurance may offer cover for a range of events including trip cancellation, missed connection, and trip delay – but it depends on the type of travel insurance policy purchased and whether you’ve started your journey yet.
“At World Nomads, on our Explorer Plan, if your accommodation is affected, you may be covered for reasonable additional accommodation and transport costs. You may also claim for additional expenses incurred if your pre booked public transport is cancelled or delayed for more than 12-24 hours, depending on the scenario.”
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Hurricane Beryl: Travel advice as ‘life-threatening’ storm hits Texas
‘Hurricane-force winds, dangerous storm surge, and heavy rainfall are forecast to begin within the next few hours across the Yucatan Peninsula’ – National Hurricane Center
Beryl’s devastation: By the numbers
Beryl, once a Category 1 hurricane, is now a post-tropical cyclone. Despite the downgraded status, the storm continues to leave destruction in its wake.
Here’s a glimpse at some of the damage, by the numbers:
- 8: the number of people who have died as a result of the storm
- 2.5 million: the number of people who were experiencing power outages — many of those customers have yet to have power restored.
- 100: the temperature in Texas on Tuesday, which could climb to 106.
- 1850: the year of the strongest hurricane to form in the Caribbean for this time of the year — Beryl broke that record on July 3
The damage and economic loss from Beryl in the US could total $30bn
The total damage and economic loss from the devastation of Beryl in the United States is $28-32 billion, AccuWeather predicted.
The storm on Monday pummeled Houston, where residents are left to clean up the damage while enduring triple-digit temperatures and no air conditioning due to downed power lines.
“Beryl will go down in the history books as a record-shattering hurricane. It was the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic basin, causing catastrophic damage in the Windward Islands. Beryl brought impacts to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands before slamming into the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico with damaging wind and storm surge,” said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter.
Flash floods could hit the northeast while the midwest should be aware of possible tornadoes
Post-tropical cyclone Beryl could leave flash floods and tornadoes in its path through Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Flood watch is in effect for southeast Missouri, Illinois, western Kentucky, northern Indiana, southern Michigan, northern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and western Maine. Meanwhile, a tornado watch is underway for parts of the Midwest — middle Tennessee, Kentucky, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, and southwest Ohio.
In Texas, residents are picking up the pieces of the devastation left by Beryl after it slammed Houston on Monday, knocking down trees and power lines.
The city is cleaning up the damage as it endures with triple-digit heat, and little air conditioning as 2.5 million customers experience power outages.
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