Southeast Texas Faces Ongoing Power Outages and Heat After Hurricane Beryl

Residents of southeast Texas are grappling with severe power outages and oppressive heat as they enter the fourth day following Hurricane Beryl's landfall. The storm, which struck the Gulf Coast as a Category 1 hurricane on Monday, has left nearly 1.3 million homes and businesses without electricity, resulting in at least 11 fatalities across Texas and Louisiana. Many individuals are seeking refuge with friends or family who still have power, while others are unable to leave their homes due to financial constraints. In the Houston area, approximately 500,000 customers may not have their power restored until next week, according to a CenterPoint Energy executive. The hardest-hit areas include southern Houston and the Interstate 45 corridor. Local officials are urging residents to remain calm and patient as recovery efforts continue. CenterPoint had requested 3,000 mutual assistance workers to prepare for the storm, but the scale of the outages has posed significant challenges. Vulnerable populations, particularly seniors and those reliant on electric medical devices, are facing heightened risks as the outages persist. Emergency responders are working to provide cooling solutions, such as setting up air conditioning units in common areas, but logistical issues, including non-functioning elevators, complicate these efforts. The situation is dire for many, with reports of individuals on life-sustaining treatments struggling to access necessary care. As the remnants of Hurricane Beryl continue to impact the region, the National Weather Service has confirmed tornado activity in parts of New York, highlighting the storm's widespread effects. Local authorities are assessing the situation and preparing for ongoing recovery efforts.