NORTH TEXAS (WBAP/KLIF News ) – Hurricane Beryl hit the South Texas coast near Matagorda as a Category 1 storm early Monday morning.
The storm is bringing heavy rain, flooding, damaging winds and causing widespread power outages. The National Hurricane Center warning about life-threatening storm surge and inland flooding around 5 a.m.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez confirmed at least one person has died after a tree fell on a home in Kings River Village near Humble when Beryl moved into Houston.
According to Center Point, 1.3 million of its Southeast Texas customers are without power.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo warned residents about the flooding risks.
“Everyone across the county is at risk of the coming wind. In terms of the flooding from rain, we likely will see some street flooding. We could see some creek and bayou flooding depending on how much rain we get and how quickly,” she said.
Fort Bend County Emergency Management Coordinator Greg Babst explained to residents why he they need to stay in their homes.
“We’re telling everyone at this point to shelter in place during the storm. As you know in Texas we say, ‘hide from the wind and run from the water,” he said.
As with most hurricanes that hit the state’s coast, North Texas is expected to feel some of the impacts.
Forecasters predict Beryl will bring heavy rain and flooding to areas East and Southeast of I-35 beginning Monday.
Western portions of DFW area expected to see very little rain.
Meanwhile, some help is coming to residents in need from the Metroplex. Several firefighters from Cedar Hill, Duncanville and DeSoto are on standby in San Antonio to help out.
The Dallas-based disaster relief group Texans on Mission is also on standby.
The Texas A&M Forest Service and Texas Department of Public Safety has workers ready to assist with rescue and recovery.
Hurricane Beryl is blamed on at least 11 deaths, after it tore through the Caribbean and the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico last week.
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