In Texas, the largest oil and gas producing state in the US, the energy industry braced for Beryl’s passage
Tropical Storm Beryl is sweeping Texas with gale-force winds and heavy rain today, shutting down oil ports, canceling hundreds of flights and leaving more than 2 million homes and businesses without power.
The tropical storm weakened from a cyclone after making landfall in the coastal city Matagordain Texas early this morning, pounding the coast with dangerous storm surges and heavy rainfall, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
The storm, which is expected to weaken further as it moves inland, created a destructive path through Jamaica, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Grenadines last week, killing at least 11 people and destroying buildings.
In the TexasHarris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in a post on social media platform X today that initial reports indicate one person has died after a tree fell on a home.
In the Texasthe top oil and gas producing state in the US, the energy industry braced for Beryl’s passage, with the powerful storm slowing refinery activity and leading to the evacuation of generating stations.
“Life-threatening storm surges and heavy rainfall batter parts of Texas. Damaging winds batter the coasts and strong winds move inlandThe NHC said, adding that Beryl is expected to weaken.
After warnings that it could turn into a deadly storm for communities, residents rushed to cover windows and stockpile fuel and other essential supplies.
Before dawn, strong winds and torrential rain lashed cities including Galveston, Sargent, Lake Jackson and Freeport, according to footage broadcast by television networks.
The storm strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane before it made landfall in Texas, but forecasters say it is now expected to weaken soon.
Texas Governor Dan Patrick yesterday declared 120 communities in potential disaster areas ahead of the storm and warned that the cyclone would be deadly for people in its direct path.
The city of Galveston, in the southeast Houston, ordered a voluntary evacuation of some areas, and videos posted on social media showed lines of cars leaving the city.
Schools have announced they will be closed as the storm approaches. Airlines canceled more than 1,300 flights.
More than 2 million Texas households and businesses were left in the dark, according to local power companies and the website PowerOutage.us.
Source :Skai
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