State speaks on preparations for Beryl, disaster declarations in place for 39 counties

AUSTIN, Texas ( ValleyCentral ) — In light of the potential threat of Hurricane Beryl making its way to South Texas, acting Governor Dan Patrick and the Texas Division of Emergency Management are meeting to speak on preparations.

TDEM Chief Nim Kidd held a news conference at the State Operations Center in Austin to address the public.

As of Friday morning, Beryl officially made landfall in Tulum, Mexico as a strong Category 2 Hurricane with winds of 110mph.

“We are preparing for the worst, praying for the best,” Patrick said.

He said the concern is that Texans are out on vacation due to the holiday weekend and may not be aware of the potential storm.

The acting governor asks that Texans reach out to their loved ones near the coast and warn them to be alert of the weather updates.

“If you are anywhere between Brownsville to the Louisiana border, you have about two days to prepare for when it (potentially) hits on Monday,” Patrick said

Our meteorologists say Beryl will continue to weaken over land, until it re-emerges into water, the Gulf of Mexico, this is where Beryl will re-strengthen into a Category 1 Hurricane right before making landfall anywhere from northeast Mexico or South Texas.

“The track is taking a slightly more north direction but the timing is still Sunday into Monday where the Rio Grande Valley could feel impacts,” Meteorologist Jessica Kirk said.

TDEM Chief Kidd advises that residents ensure they have enough food and water, fuel in their vehicles and that they check up with friends and family ahead of the storm.

“Take the time now to prepare so that when this thing makes landfall you are already where you need to be,” Kidd said.

The acting governor also advised that the next few days will see strong rip currents as the storm brews. Those near the coast are asked to stay out of the waters Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Patrick said he issued disaster declarations for 39 counties, including Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy, Friday morning in preparation for this potential storm.

Local officials said Willacy County’s disaster declaration went into effect July 1; Cameron County’s disaster declaration went into effect July 3 and Hidalgo County’s went into effect Friday.

For more information on what the state plans for this potential storm visit, TDEM.texas.gov.

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