In the early morning of Monday, July 8, 2024, Hurricane Beryl made landfall near Matagorda, Texas as a Category 1 hurricane. It has since ripped through the Gulf Coast of Texas, including Houston, and moved towards the Ohio Valley, causing tornado outbreaks across the country, with tornados being reported in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas among other states. Beryl has caused at least 10 fatalities and left over 2 million people without power amidst extremely hot temperatures. The state of Louisiana has issued an emergency declaration, and President Biden has approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Texas. The Federal Emergency Management Service (FEMA) has already been deployed, and the recovery process has begun, with state and federal agencies working to remove debris from affected areas, get supplies to residents in need, and provide support to those who remain without power.

Tips

Please keep in mind the following safety protocols for hurricanes and flooding:

• Only call 911 if you have an immediate need for medical attention or evacuation assistance.
• If you cannot reach 911 on your first try, keep calling until you reach an operator.
• Do not drive through high water, and do not drive around barricades.
• Do not try to walk through flood waters.
• If your home is flooded, stay there. You are safer at home than trying to walk or drive through flooded streets.
• Stay away from streams, rivers, and creeks during heavy rainfall. These areas can flood very quickly.
• Move important documents, including ID documents and insurance policies, to the highest ground possible to protect them from flood damage.
• Disconnect electrical appliances, and do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water. You could be electrocuted.

Hurricane Beryl serves as a reminder that all residents in the affected area should carry flood insurance. If you have an insurance agent, contact them about purchasing flood insurance. If you do not have an insurance agent, you can visit the National Flood Insurance Program at www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program or call 1-888-379-9531. Please keep in mind that new insurance policies typically take 30 days to go into effect.

If your home has experienced damage, check the outside of your home before entering. Look for loose power lines, broken or damaged gas lines, cracks in the foundation, missing support beams, and other damage. Do not force jammed doors open, as they may be providing needed support for the rest of the home. Be sure to sniff your home for gas to ensure that there are no gas leaks. If you have a propane tank system, be sure to turn off all valves and contact a propane supplier to check the system before using it again. Check floors and ceilings to make sure they are not sagging from water damage. Be especially sure to take photographs of any damage you see, as you may need these photos later on for insurance claims or FEMA claims.

Resources

If your home is inaccessible or currently uninhabitable, temporary emergency housing will likely be made available to provide immediate shelter to those in need. If you are in need of emergency housing, text SHELTER and your Zip Code to 4FEMA (43362) to find where the shelter closest to you is located.

Apply for FEMA Assistance by registering online at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/. For more information about FEMA Disaster Assistance, call the toll-free helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Hearing impaired callers should call 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) or 1-800-621-3362 (Video Relay Service). Operators are multilingual and answer calls seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET.

The Red Cross helps disaster victims by providing safe shelter, hot meals, essential relief supplies, health services, and emotional support. You can locate Red Cross shelter services in your area through https://www.redcross.org/find-help or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).