Hurricane Beryl tracker: Death toll rises to 6 in Texas, over 2 million without power

Beryl is slamming Texas with powerful winds and torrential rain.

ByNadine El-Bawab, Daniel Amarante, Kenton Gewecke, Bill Hutchinson, Kevin Shalvey, and Emily Shapiro
Last Updated: July 8, 2024, 4:59 PM EDT

Tropical Storm Beryl is tearing across Texas after making landfall in the state as a Category 1 hurricane Monday morning.

At least six people have been killed by fallen trees or by drowning and more than 2 million customers are without power across Texas due to torrential rain and powerful winds.

Hurricane Beryl first killed at least seven people in the Windward Islands before skirting south of Jamaica, shutting down communications, stranding tourists and delivering storm surge and flooding rain to the island.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Jul 08, 2024, 8:11 PM EDT

Officials confirm 3 more fatalities, raising death toll to 6 in Texas

The death toll in Texas from tropical storm Beryl has risen from three known fatalities to at least six, officials confirmed Monday evening.

Three people were killed in Montgomery County due to falling trees from the storm, according to Chief of Staff for Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough.

One man riding a tractor on a public roadway was killed when a tree fell on him and a couple was killed in a wooded area when a tree fell on them, according to Keough.

The three previously confirmed deaths included two from falling trees and one from drowning.

An upended tree rests on Bethel Church after Hurricane Beryl moved through the area, July 8, 2024, in Van Vleck, Texas.
Eric Gay/AP

As of Monday evening, Beryl was designated as a "tropical depression" by officials, due to its sustained winds of 35 mph.

Beryl is moving northeast at 16 mph, continuing to gain speed as it weakens.

Jul 08, 2024, 6:56 PM EDT

2.7 million people still without power, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said at a Monday press briefing that 2.7 million people across the state are still without power and 10 transmission lines are down.

It will take "several days" to restore power, Patrick said, and the priority will be first restoring it in hospitals, nursing homes and the homes of people that depend on respirators or medical devices with failed generators.

Officials urged members of the public to stay inside and not drive.

Three people have been confirmed dead, two from falling trees and one from drowning.

Jul 08, 2024, 6:19 PM EDT

Houston mayor confirms 3rd victim has died in deadly storm

A third person in the U.S. has died due to tropical storm Beryl, Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced early Monday evening.

The man, who was a civilian employee of the Houston Police Department, died after driving into flood conditions on the way to work Monday morning. His body was retrieved from a submerged car.

The victim has not been publicly identified, and no other details were given about him. His family is currently being notified.

Jul 08, 2024, 4:58 PM EDT

47 high water rescues in Harris County

As floodwaters from Beryl rushed through the streets, crews carried out 47 high water rescues across Harris County, which encompasses Houston, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo told reporters.

Street flooding is still significant Monday afternoon, Hidalgo said, and she urged residents to stay home.

In terms of storm surge, Hidalgo said, "Things turned out a little bit better than we expected."

Beryl's rough winds have caused more than 2 million customers to lose power across the state. Hidalgo said there will be a clearer picture Tuesday on the timeline for power restoration in Harris County.

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