Lt. Governor Dan Patrick to be acting Governor during Hurricane Beryl’s expected landfall in Texas

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Lt. Governor Dan Patrick is expected to be acting governor when Hurricane Beryl is predicted to make its final landfall in the northern Mexico and South Texas area late Sunday night to early Monday morning, while Governor Greg Abbott leads an economic development mission in East Asia.

Acting Governor Dan Patrick and Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Chief Nim Kidd held a media briefing Friday on preparations for Hurricane Beryl’s arrival in Texas.

Hurricane Beryl made landfall just north of Tulum, Mexico, Friday morning as a Category 2 storm before weakening into a Category 1. The hurricane is expected to weaken further after it travels inland across the Yucatan Peninsula. However, it is expected to slowly re-intensify once it moves over the Gulf of Mexico, possibly reaching hurricane strength before entering the North Mexico and South Texas area.

Meanwhile, Abbott will be visiting Taiwan, South Korea and Japan from July 5-13, meeting with businesses and government leaders to strengthen ‘economic and cultural partnerships,’ as detailed in a press release from the Office of the Texas Governor . This will be Abbott’s first visit to Taiwan and South Korea and his third trip to Japan.

The three eastern Asian countries are described as top partners with Texas by the Texas Economic Development Corporation due to mutual trade and foreign direct investment.

“Texas offers businesses in critical and emerging industries, such as semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, across the country and around the world the tools and the opportunities to grow and thrive. I look forward to meeting with business and government leaders in Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan to strengthen our economic and cultural partnerships as we work together to forge the future of innovation,” Abbott said.

The governor will be joined by:

• First Lady Cecilia Abbott
• Secretary of State Jane Nelson
• The Governor’s Economic Development & Tourism Office Executive Director Adriana Cruz
• Texas Economic Development Corporation Board Secretary Adrian Cannady
• Texas Economic Development Corporation President & CEO Aaron Demerson
• A delegation of five Texas legislators
• 23 Texas business and community leaders.

This is the third time in 2024 that Patrick has taken on the duties of governor while Abbot has left been away from Texas, in accordance with Article 4, section 16(c) of the Texas Constitution .

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