Hurricane Beryl latest: Over 2.3 million households lose electricity as storm advances inland

Hurricane Beryl has caused widespread power outages affecting more than 2.3 million electricity customers in Texas as of 10:27 a.m. Monday, according to estimates from PowerOutage.us and CenterPoint Energy.

The most severe outages are concentrated in Houston and coastal counties such as Matagorda, where Beryl made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane around 4 a.m. Significant disruptions are also reported in Galveston, Calhoun, and Jackson counties. Throughout the morning, outages expanded inland into Deep East Texas, including areas like Polk, San Jacinto, Montgomery, Grimes, and Washington counties.

The majority of these outages are among customers served by CenterPoint Energy, the primary provider for Harris and Fort Bend counties and numerous communities in East Texas. Specific county-level outage figures are not currently available from the provider.

CenterPoint Energy announced plans to assess damage and begin restoration efforts once conditions are safe. They cautioned the public against approaching downed power lines or attempting to clear debris, advising instead to report hazards to local authorities or the utility company.

High winds persisting inland prompted authorities to advise residents in various counties, including San Jacinto, Liberty, Hardin, and Tyler, to shelter in place to minimize road travel and keep emergency routes clear. The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch and wind advisory for several counties, including areas of Louisiana and Arkansas.

Tragically, two fatalities were reported in separate incidents where trees fell onto residences in Houston, underscoring the storm's destructive impact on the region.

In Polk County, where concerns over the Lake Livingston Dam's integrity persisted, authorities reported elevated water release levels but noted they were significantly lower than those during previous storm events in April.

As the storm moved away from the coast, Houston officials urged residents to remain off roads due to flooded streets, fallen trees, and ongoing power outages affecting over 700,000 customers. Mayor John Whitmire emphasized the severity of the situation and urged citizens to shelter in place while emergency and rescue operations continued.

Despite being downgraded to a tropical storm, Beryl continued to pose threats with sustained winds and heavy rainfall across the region, prompting further caution from local officials and emergency responders....Read More