Hurricane Beryl made landfall at Matagorda at 4 a.m. Monday as a Category 1 storm with 80 mph winds, causing extensive damage and power outages. More than 2.7 million homes and businesses in the Houston area lost power as the storm, now downgraded to a tropical storm, unleashed heavy rains and high winds.

Acting Governor Dan Patrick reported that power restoration efforts will take several days due to ongoing high winds. CenterPoint Energy urged customers to report outages and stay indoors to avoid downed power lines.

The storm claimed three lives in Texas, with additional fatalities reported across Mexico and the Caribbean. Houston Mayor John Whitmire highlighted the bravery of first responders conducting high-water rescues amid flash-flood warnings.

President Joe Biden received updates as FEMA and the U.S. Coast Guard prepared for search and rescue operations. The National Weather Service forecast predicts continued heavy rain and flash flooding as Beryl moves inland, weakening to a tropical depression by Tuesday.

The hurricane previously caused significant damage in Mexico, Jamaica, Barbados, and other Caribbean nations, emphasizing the severe impact of this early-season storm.

Source: nbcdfw.com