Hurricane Beryl Tracker: Texas death toll rises to 6, over 2 million without power, tropical depression now targets Midwest

HOUSTON– After sweeping through Texas on Monday, Beryl is now targeting the Midwest on Tuesday.

The storm reached the state on Monday morning as a Category 1 hurricane.

At least six people have died from fallen trees or drowning, and more than two million homes in Texas are without power due to torrential rains and strong winds.

Hurricane Beryl initially claimed at least seven lives in the Leeward Islands before passing south of Jamaica, disrupting communications, stranding tourists and causing storm surges and flooding across the island.

SEE ALSO: Hurricane Beryl hits the coast of Mexico as a Category 2 storm; 11 dead in the Caribbean

According to Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough’s chief of staff, three people were killed in Montgomery County, Texas, when trees fell as a result of the storm.

According to Keough, a man riding a tractor on a public road was killed when a tree fell on him, and a couple was killed in a wooded area when a tree fell on them.

Of the three previously confirmed deaths, two were caused by falling trees and one by drowning.

Beryl brought 23 centimeters of rain with winds of over 145 kilometers per hour in some areas and caused significant damage to homes and businesses.

As floodwaters from Beryl surged through the streets, emergency responders conducted 47 flood rescues throughout Harris County, which includes Houston, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo told reporters.

Flooding on the streets was still significant Monday afternoon, Hidalgo said, urging residents to stay home.

Regarding the storm surge, Hidalgo said, “Everything went a little better than we expected.”

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said at a press conference on Monday that 2.7 million people across the state were still without power and 10 transmission lines were down.

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It will take “several days” to restore power, Patrick said. The priority will initially be to restore power to hospitals, nursing homes and the homes of people who rely on ventilators or medical equipment because generators have failed.

Hidalgo said there will be a clearer picture on Tuesday about the timeline for restoring power to Harris County.

In Galveston, the mayor warns that it could take two weeks for some people to have power again, even though temperatures are expected to reach 38 degrees in the coming days.

Authorities urged people to stay in their homes and not to drive.

Beryl’s latest forecast

As of Monday evening, Beryl has been classified as a “tropical depression” by authorities because it is experiencing sustained winds of 35 miles per hour.

Beryl is moving northeast at 16 mph and continues to gain speed as it weakens.

Rain from Beryl will hit Indiana Tuesday morning and then move to Detroit Tuesday evening.

PHOTOS | Hurricane Beryl hits Texas

The remnants of Beryl will then bring heavy rains to Vermont on Wednesday.

Rain will reach Washington, DC, Wednesday evening and reach Philadelphia and New York City overnight into Thursday morning. Flash flooding is possible.

Beryl was the first hurricane of the season to make landfall in Texas since Bonnie in 1986.