Disaster declaration granted in aftermath of Beryl

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Acting Texas Gov. Dan Patrick said Tuesday a federal emergency disaster declaration was granted by President Biden in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.

The disaster declaration through FEMA will “cover all costs for Category A (Debris) and Category B (Emergency Protective Measures),” the release said.

“FEMA’s assistance with these costs will expedite the recovery process and help ensure the safety of Texans impacted by Hurricane Beryl,” the release said.

Six people in the Houston area died as Hurricane Beryl pushed through Texas, officials said Monday.

Authorities said two people died after trees fell on two, separate houses in Harris County. Acting Houston Police Chief Larry Satterwhite said on social media an HPD information security officer died after he was “caught in rising floodwaters” while he was on his way to work.

Beryl made landfall Monday around 4 a.m. near Matagorda, Texas, as a Category 1 Hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. Beryl was downgraded to a tropical storm around 10 a.m. Monday as it moved toward Houston.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is overseas, leading an economic development mission in Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is serving as acting governor while Abbott is out of the country.

The storm knocked out power for more than 2 million people around the Houston area. Beryl brought significant rain to southeast Texas causing flooding across Houston’s roads and bayous.

Patrick said the timeline for restoring power is unclear, adding that the storm knocked down 10 transmission towers.

As of 1 p.m. Monday, Beryl was a tropical storm moving north to northwest of Houston with sustained winds around 60 mph.

Hundreds of disaster workers flocked to the Texas coast to join several emergency response vehicles, thousands of relief supplies and shelf-stable meals provided by the Red Cross, according to a Monday release.

Red Cross officials reported 125 people stayed in seven evacuation shelters.

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