Millions without power, 7 dead in Texas after Beryl hits
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Residents assess a fallen tree in their neighborhood. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Millions went without power and at least seven people died as Beryl plowed through Houston on Monday.
Zoom in: With the storm and downed trees causing havoc on local power infrastructure, more than 2.2 million CenterPoint Energy customers were without power Monday.
- More than a dozen bayous and creeks jumped their banks, with many more on the brink.
- At least seven people died in the Houston area because of the storm, the Houston Chronicle reported.
- More than 30 school districts and college campuses in the area are canceling classes Tuesday, per Houston Public Media.
Meanwhile, almost 1,500 flights to and from Houston airports were canceled, including about 90% of flights from George Bush Intercontinental Airport, per FlightAware.
- Hilshire Village received at least 14.8 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service.
- Wind gusts up to 84 mph were recorded at Hobby Airport.
State of play: More than 1.8 million CenterPoint Energy customers remain without power Tuesday morning.
What they're saying: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at a press conference Monday emphasized the importance of safety even after the storm has passed.
- "We still have power lines down. There are over 50 roads that are covered with water, some of them are unpassable," Patrick said.
- "This will be a multiday restoration effort," Texas Public Utility Commission chair Thomas Gleeson said. "I ask Texans for their patience as the crews are out there doing their best to restore energy across the state."
Zoom out: Beryl is the sixth hurricane to pass within 30 miles of Harris County since 1960.
Between the lines: The storm battled dry air as it approached the Texas coast, which disrupted its ability to form thunderstorms near the center of circulation and prevented it from rapidly intensifying over the Gulf of Mexico.
- Had that inhibiting factor not been present, the storm may have hit the Houston area as a major Category 3 storm or stronger.
What's next: Expect to hear a lot of chainsawing in the coming days as crews scramble to restore power and clear trees from electric lines.
