A trash can floats through the intersection of 23rd and Market streets in Galveston on Monday, July 8, 2024, as Hurricane Beryl made landfall flooding the island and downing trees and power lines across Galveston County.
An oak tree lies across the esplanade on Broadway in Galveston as some drivers use the westbound lanes to head east Monday, July 8, 2024, as high winds and heavy rain of Hurricane Beryl wreak havoc.
A trash can floats through the intersection of 23rd and Market streets in Galveston on Monday, July 8, 2024, as Hurricane Beryl made landfall flooding the island and downing trees and power lines across Galveston County.
JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News
An oak tree lies across the esplanade on Broadway in Galveston as some drivers use the westbound lanes to head east Monday, July 8, 2024, as high winds and heavy rain of Hurricane Beryl wreak havoc.
JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News
Editor's Note
This is an article that will be updated with new information as it becomes available.
A 71-year-old woman died Monday morning in her mobile home after Hurricane Beryl knocked out power to her breathing machine, Sheriff Henry Trochesset said.
The Category 1 hurricane brought up to a foot of rain and up to 85 mph winds to parts of Galveston County, leaving tens of thousands without power and leaving some roads impassable, officials said.
With the Galveston-Port Bolivar Ferry closed and state Highway 87 flooded, the Galveston County Medical Examiner's Office was blocked from getting to the woman’s body, Trochesset said.
A friend found the woman in the 1200 block of state Highway 87 and notified deputies, Trochesset said.
The woman's identity hadn't been made public because county officials had not been able to notify her family.
12:30 p.m.
University of Texas Medical Branch hospitals and emergency rooms were open Monday, but plans to keep clinics and urgent care facilities open were dashed by widespread power outages.
The medical branch said hospitals and emergency departments in Galveston, League City, the Clear Lake area and Angleton Danbury were open and operating.
Monday classes were canceled for students, including in the John Sealy School of Medicine and School of Health Professions and School and Nursing.
“A decision about the status of classes on Tuesday will be made Monday afternoon,” medical branch spokesman Stephen Hadley said.
The medical branch canceled all elective surgeries and procedures scheduled for Monday.
The medical branch will assess damage and electricity availability Monday afternoon to determine which clinics can open Tuesday, Hadley said.
The medical branch operates clinics in Alvin, Angleton, Galveston Texas City, League City and Webster.
— Laura Elder
More than 100,000 meters without power, maybe for days
More than 120,000 homes and businesses in Galveston County were without power as of noon Monday after Hurricane Beryl, which produced wind gusts up 85 mph, snapped power poles, downed lines and left transformers dangling in the breeze.
CenterPoint Energy said about 60,000 of its customers in Galveston County were without power Monday morning; Texas-New Mexico Power, which mostly serves the mainland cities, said about 64,000 of its customers were without power.
Entergy Texas, which serves Bolivar Peninsula, said more than 6,200 customers were without power.
CenterPoint Energy and Texas-New Mexico — both own transmission and distribution lines — were working to restore power.
CenterPoint said Monday it was bringing in extra crews through mutual assistance agreements, but those likely won’t begin restoring power until Tuesday. The companies were waiting for high winds to subside and debris to be removed from the streets.
It’s possible some customers in Galveston County might not see their power restored until the weekend, depending on severity of the damage Beryl inflicted, Robert Tinnin, a manager for distribution projects and grid modernization for CenterPoint Energy.
— Laura Elder
Santa Fe Mayor signs disaster declaration- 11:30
Santa Fe Mayor Brandon Noto signed a disaster declaration Monday in response to the damage caused by Hurricane Beryl across the city.
“We have quite a bit of damage around the city, mainly downed trees and down power lines,” Noto said in an update posted to social media. “So by signing that disaster declaration, that's going to help us with some resources, both at the county and the state level, just to make sure that we're doing everything that we can to begin recovery and getting back to normal as soon as possible. Although it will be a long process of getting all of this cleaned up and getting the electricity restored, we're going to do the best that we can to get that done as soon as possible.”
The city’s priority is to remove debris from blocked roads.
Around noon, city inspectors will go around the city to assess the damage and get an exact idea of how many trees and debris need to be cleaned up as the city works on a recovery plan, Noto said.
— Myrian Orea
Galveston officials are urging people to shelter in place and remain off roadways because of substantial debris and traffic lights that are out of order.
— B. Scott McLendon
One rescued in Jamaica Beach- 11:15 a.m.
Two houses on Blackbeard Road have lost their roofs, while other structures have suffered roof damage, as well, city officials at Jamaica Beach said. Police rescued a woman from a house that lost its roof. Officials with the police and fire departments are patrolling at this time.
— Monique Batson
Downed trees, high tides reported in Hitchcock - 11:05 a.m.
There are no reports of severe damage in Hitchcock aside from some flooding and downed trees.
Near the HarborWalk community, there have been several reports of downed trees and high tides, Leroy Thomas, Director of Public Works, said.
There are about four feet of flood water along Highway 6, Thomas said.
There have also been various reports of low water pressure across the entire city, which was resolved within one hour of being notified of the city-wide issue, according to Mayor Chris Armacost’s Facebook updates.
— Myrian Orea
La Marque opens temporary shelter- 10:40 a.m.
The La Marque Office of Emergency Management opened a temporary shelter in response to the dangers of Hurricane Beryl.
The city has opened a temporary shelter with limited space for residents with medical emergencies only, officials said.
Staff at the shelter will provide essential electricity, water, facility coverage for medical services and limited accommodations.
Officials advise residents who need to use the shelter to bring necessary medications, identification and any essential personal items.
The shelter is located in the Community Room, 1109-B Bayou Road.
The city created a live map of reported hazards, down power lines, debris and more damage caused by the storm for residents to be informed.
The Galveston County Road and Bridge closed the hurricane flood protection levee system in La Marque. The closure is effective immediately and will remain in place until further notice, officials said.
City officials urge residents near the levee to avoid the area and seek higher ground if necessary.
— Myrian Orea
20K or more without power in League City- 10:25 a.m.
Tropical Storm Beryl caused split power poles and downed trees in different parts of League City.
Texas-New Mexico Power reported more than 20,000 people without power, including all city facilities, Sarah Osborne, city spokeswoman, said.
While generally widespread, the historic district has been the most affected by storm damage, officials said.
Public Works crews have been out this morning to check different areas for rain and wind damage. So far, there are no reports of heavy flooding outside of slightly flooded roadways, Osborne said.
More than 12K without power in Texas City
The main concern in Texas City is power outages, officials said. There have been more than 12,000 reports of power outages in the city, according to Texas-New Mexico Power.
“Lots of power lines have been reported down,” Mayor Dedrick Johnson said. “We've had some poles that have fallen and small signs here and there that are leaning. So yes, there's been some light wind damage throughout the city.”
Johnson, along with a team of city employees, are at the Emergency Operations Center monitoring the storm and will remain there for the duration of the storm.
The city has not suffered any major flooding. There are few spots, primarily along Ninth Avenue between 21st Street and 14th Street, where there is light flooding, Johnson said.
Residents can monitor flooding through a live map the city created that highlights the areas with reported high water.
Earlier, the Marathon Galveston Bay Refinery began flaring after a brief power disruption during the storm.
Flares are safety devices that allow for the safe combustion of excess gasses under certain operational conditions.
The flaring, at this time, poses no threat to the public, officials said.
“The biggest thing is there are power outages all throughout the city, and so the crews are going to be mobilizing to address those power outages as soon as the storm passes,” Johnson said. “It's kind of hard to fix it in the middle of the storm, and so once the weather begins to subside and streets are clear, everybody will be mobilized to get in the recovery mode.”
— Myrian Orea
Bolivar woman dies from lack of power to oxygen tank - 10:12 a.m.
Galveston County officials can’t get to the body of a 71-year-old woman on the Bolivar Peninsula whose death is believed to have been caused by the lack of electricity to her oxygen tank, according to the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Henry Trochesset confirmed the death of a woman on the peninsula Monday morning as Hurricane Beryl’s 40-85 mph winds made it difficult for medical examiners to get to the body, he said.
The Galveston-Bolivar Ferry Landing still was closed at about 10 a.m. Monday morning and state Highway 87 was impassable for medical examiner vehicles, according to the sheriff’s office.
— B. Scott McLendon
The top of a power poles lies in the middle of 69th Street in Galveston on Monday, July 8, 2024, as Hurricane Beryls’ winds pummel Galveston County.
JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News
It could take days for power to be restored in Galveston County- 10 a.m.
About 60,000 CenterPoint Energy customers in Galveston County were without power Monday after strong wind gusts from Hurricane Beryl snapped power polls and downed lines in the early morning hours.
CenterPoint, which owns transmission and distribution lines, on Monday was bringing in mutual assistance, but those crews likely won’t begin restoring power until Tuesday.
It’s possible some customers in Galveston County might not see their power restored until the weekend, depending on severity of the damage Beryl inflicted, Robert Tinnin, a manager for distribution projects and grid modernization for CenterPoint Energy.
It wasn’t immediately clear how many Texas-New Mexico consumers were without power Monday morning.
— Laura Elder
Port of Galveston remains closed and secured
The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended all vessel operations, and the port remains closed and secured, said spokeswoman Kathy Thomas.
Flooding due to storm surge and rain will continue to hinder access and obstruct roadways in and around the port complex.
When conditions allow, the U.S. Coast Guard, Port Police and port staff will conduct assessments to determine when waterways and port operations can open.
— Monique Batson
A stoplight dangles into traffic on 61st Street in Galveston on Monday, July 8, 2024, as Hurricane Beryls’ winds pummel the island.
JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News
Galveston mayor says crews are assessing damage - 9:45 a.m.
“We had quite an eventful night last night,” said Galveston Mayor Craig Brown. “Winds got a little stronger than what we expected.”
Brown said there has been quite a bit of street flooding on the West End, in addition to unconfirmed reports of a house fire. City crews currently are out on the island assessing damage.
“It’s going to be a little while until we get back,” Brown said. “The street flooding is getting better. Being on the dirty side of this storm, it really hit us bad. The main thing is to get our infrastructure up and running.”
— Monique Batson
Worst of storm should end at 11 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
Forecasters expect Beryl’s 40-85 mph winds and bands of rain to end at about 11 a.m., a National Weather Service meteorologist said.
City workers throughout Galveston County were cleaning streets and advising residents to stay off the roads as tropical storm winds and rains left downed trees and flooded streets throughout the county.
Thousands of people are without power and internet service.
The eye of Hurricane Beryl was over Sugarland at about 9 a.m. Monday, with wind speeds between 40 and 50 mph in Galveston County
The system is moving on to the north at about 12 mph hour with a dry spot on the south west side which should lead us to relief in Galveston County.
The storm was slightly worse than expected yesterday, said meteorologist Stan Blazyk. The concern now, he said, is moisture in the area over the next three days, which could lead to more rainfall.
There was 12 inches of rain measured in Galveston’s East End.
The storm surge was less than 4 feet, Blayzk said. Meteorologists expected worse.
There are reports of a tornado in the West End but the National Weather Service said it had not been confirmed.
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