Hurricane Beryl causes 7 storm-related deaths across Houston region

Seven people are confirmed dead after Hurricane Beryl tore into the Houston region Monday, flooding streets and downing trees.

Local authorities have confirmed three people were killed by falling trees; two were found dead in a tent in Magnolia; Houston Police Department employee Russell Richardson died in floodwaters; and a woman died in a house fire caused by lightning.

In north Harris County, another tree crashed through the roof of a 74-year-old grandmother’s room. KHOU 11 identified her as Maria Loredo, who lived with her son and his family at the home.

“It happened super fast as I was going downstairs to check on my son, that’s when I heard the big crack. My son was screaming ‘grandma’ because he saw me crying and telling my husband ‘go check on your mom,’” Loredo’s daughter-in-law told the TV station.

Photos provided by the local constable’s office showed the house, on the 17400 block of Rustic Canyon Trail, crushed and obscured by an uprooted tree.

“Please keep her family in your prayers,” Constable Mark Herman wrote on Facebook.

Meanwhile, in southeast Houston, the Houston Fire Department reported the death of a woman  on Bendell Street around 5:30 a.m. She was killed in a fire ignited by lightning shortly after the storm began whipping through the neighborhood, according to Whitmire.

At a separate press conference on Monday afternoon, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said that while the violence of the storm had passed, “power continues to be the main threat.”

In the wake of widespread power outages, Houston Fire Chief Peña encouraged Houstonians to practice generator safety as over 2 million residents wait for electricity to be restored to their homes.

Generators, while helpful in the event of a power outage, can also cause fires, carbon monoxide poisoning , and electric shock. Experts urge that community members keep generators dry, outdoors, and to let it cool down before refueling.

If you or your family are currently facing danger, or need help in the wake of the storm, here’s a list of where to go and who to call .

Houston Landing reporter Paul Cobler contributed to this story.