Hurricane Beryl Death Toll Rises to 7, Generator Misuse Is Blamed for 2 Deaths

Recovery and repair teams are working tirelessly in sweltering heat to restore services for 1 million individuals.

Following the passage of Hurricane Beryl, seven fatalities have been confirmed, and numerous residents along the Texas Gulf Coast are grappling with power outages.

The affected communities are also contending with a heat advisory as they embark on recovery efforts and assess the extent of the damage caused by the storm.

Acting Texas Governor Dan Patrick, along with Senator Ted Cruz and Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, convened a press briefing on July 9 to address the recovery operations in the wake of the hurricane’s impact on the southeastern part of the state, which brought hurricane-force winds, flooding, and destructive tornadoes.

Nim Kidd highlighted that two of the fatalities were due to carbon monoxide poisoning, cautioning against improper use of gas-powered generators for home power backup. He emphasized the dangers of carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas.

“It is crucial to ensure that any running generators are placed far away from living and sleeping areas to prevent such tragic incidents,” Kidd stated. “These deaths are entirely preventable.”

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In addition, with millions still without power, concerns are rising, particularly in light of the heat advisory issued for the majority of the impacted areas. On July 8, over 2.7 million residents in southeast Texas were left without electricity, surpassing the outage numbers from Hurricane Ike.

CenterPoint Energy, the Texas power company, announced plans to restore power to 1 million affected customers by July 10 with the assistance of approximately 12,000 field resources.

Acting Governor Patrick emphasized the urgency of the situation, urging CenterPoint to prioritize swift and safe restoration efforts to alleviate the hardships faced by Texans during this challenging time.

While facing criticism for not pre-positioning in the Houston region, CenterPoint has been urged to focus on restoring power promptly before addressing any inquiries or concerns.

Furthermore, Governor Patrick disclosed that he had contacted President Joe Biden to request a FEMA emergency declaration to support the recovery efforts in Texas.

FEMA’s assistance, covering debris cleanup and emergency protective measures, is expected to alleviate the financial burden and expedite the region’s recovery process.

Senator Cruz pledged to work alongside state and local officials to secure federal resources for rebuilding, with a primary focus on restoring power and establishing cooling centers for residents.

Nim Kidd reiterated the importance of clearing debris as a crucial step towards Texas’ recovery, following power restoration and establishment of cooling facilities.