Tropical Storm Beryl: How to get help and help Texans

The Morales family works to unclog storm drains across the street from their house in the Robindell neighborhood during the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl on Monday, July 8, 2024, in Houston. (Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune)

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Texans in Houston and coastal counties were hit by heavy rain, strong winds and power outages after Hurricane Beryl began sweeping through the area early Monday.

Downed trees have killed at least two people and more than 2 million customers were left without power Monday morning.

Beryl, which arrived in Matagorda as a Category 1 hurricane, weakened to a tropical storm as it moved northeast through the state. Still, officials have warned Houston and coastal residents of continued risks from flooding, downed trees, damaged power lines and carbon monoxide poisoning.

The National Weather Service of Houston said Monday afternoon that flooding rains, strong winds and isolated tornadoes will continue to be possible as the tropical storm system tracks further inland. It also issued a heat advisory for Tuesday, noting that no air conditioning and lingering humidity could make for dangerous conditions as temperatures warm again. The National Weather Service in Shreveport confirmed two tornadoes in East Texas.

Here are some safety and recovery tips for Texans bearing the brunt of Beryl’s landfall and information on how others may be able to help.

How to stay safe amid flooding and power outages

Officials have highlighted flash flooding and river flooding as some of the biggest dangers from Beryl, which was forecasted to bring up to 10-15 inches of rainfall in some areas.

Here’s what to do in case of flooding:

• Avoid walking or driving through flood waters. Just six inches of water can make a person fall, while one foot of water is enough to sweep up a vehicle during a flood.
• If flood waters rise around your vehicle, leave it and move to higher ground. If you are stuck in a flooded area, look for a higher space away from flood waters. Stay off bridges that go over fast-moving water. You can check for flooded or closed roads through the state’s drivetexas.org website.
• Be careful in areas where flood waters have receded and watch out for debris or electrically charged standing water. Stay away from all bodies of water and electric lines near you.
• Shut off your home’s main circuit breakers to prevent appliance short circuits and the threat of electrocution.

Carbon monoxide poisoning kills hundreds of people in the U.S. every year and can be especially dangerous during power outages, when people use alternative sources of fuel or electricity such as generators.

Early symptoms can include flu-like symptoms like headaches, dizziness and nausea. At higher levels of exposure, it can produce vomiting, weakness, shortness of breath, chest pain and confusion. Without immediate treatment, people can lose consciousness and die.

If you lose power, here are tips to stay safe:

• Avoid using generators, grills, camp stoves and other fuel-burning devices in a home, basement, garage or camper.
• Don’t use an oven or gas range to heat your home.
• Don’t leave your car idling inside a garage.
• Generators should be kept away from a home’s windows, doors and vent openings.
• Avoid connecting a generator to a home's main wiring because the feedback along the powerline could electrocute the linemen coming to fix the electricity.
• Leave your home immediately and call 911 if your carbon monoxide alarm goes off.
• Call the National Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222 if you have questions about carbon monoxide safety.

If you lose power and have perishable food items:

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to maintain the cold temperature. If they remain unopened, a refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours, while a full freezer will maintain its temperature for approximately 48 hours.
• If perishable food has been held at room temperature for two hours or more, discard it.
• When the power comes back on, check the refrigerator's or the food's temperature and discard any refrigerated perishable food that has been at temperatures above 40°F for more than four hours to prevent any foodborne illnesses.

The lingering humidity is expected to raise the heat index – what temperatures will feel like – to up to 105 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Here are some tips to stay safe, even without power:

• Drink water throughout the day — even before you get thirsty. Avoid sugary drinks, caffeine and alcohol. Also avoid very cold drinks because they can cause stomach cramps.
• If your home does not have air conditioning and it’s safe for you to travel, go to a shopping mall or public library with power. Even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat.
• Follow city officials and local media to see if any heat-relief shelters are open.
• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
• Take a cold shower or bath to cool off.
• Cover windows that let in lots of sun with curtains or shades.
• Read more about heat safety tips here.

The City of Houston will be distributing water and ice (two cases and two bags per car) Wednesday from 1-5 pm at the following locations:

• Acres Homes Multi-Service Center at 6719 West Montgomery Rd.
• Northeast Multi-Service Center at 9720 Spaulding St.
• Sunnyside Multi-Service Center at 4410 Reed Rd.
• Southwest Multi-Service Center at 6400 High Star Dr.
• Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center at 6402 Market St.

If you have downed trees or tree limbs on your property, you can take these steps to stay safe and see if your insurance can cover the damage:

• Don’t attempt to remove trees or tree limbs on or near power lines. This dangerous task should be left to trained professionals. In fact, state law only allows professionals authorized by wire companies to prune or remove trees closer than 6 feet of a high voltage power line. Call the power company to report it.
• If you need help assessing tree damage, you can find a certified arborist through the International Society of Arboriculture here. If you decide to remove a tree (not close to a power line), it is recommended to use fully insured contractors. Here are more tips from the Texas A&M Forest Service.
• Document tree damage by taking photos of the trees and your property for insurance purposes. If you need to do immediate repairs to prevent further damage, save your receipts for possible reimbursements and contact your insurance agent as soon as possible. Here are more tips from the Texas Department of Insurance.
• If a downed tree is growing from public property, like a road, right-of-way or park, you may report it to your city for help removing it. Call 311 for more information or check out this guidance from the City of Houston.

How to get recovery assistance 

Families file through a cafeteria line to receive a hot plate of BBQ at Gallery Furniture, which opened as a shelter on Monday after Hurricane Beryl hit Houston. (Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune)

The following places have said they are acting as shelters or may be available to help:

• Text SHELTER and your ZIP code to 43362 to find shelters with help from FEMA. (This may refer you to check with local officials or online.)
• Gallery Furniture, located at 6006 North Interstate 45, is open as a shelter until 8 p.m., according to founder Jim Mattress Mack McIngvale. The shelter will allowing people to charge devices and stay in the shelter for 30 minutes. No pets are allowed.
• The Conroe Salvation Army Center of Hope at 304 Avenue E in Conroe will be open from 8 a.m. - 8p.m. Meals will be served at the back door with lunch from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. and dinner from 5-6 p.m.
• The Houston Chronicle has compiled an updated list here of food and water centers open Thursday in the Greater Houston area.
• The Tyler Public Library will be open Thursday from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. at 201 S College Ave, Tyler.
• The Salvation Army of Tyler will offer a cooling center all day Thursday at 633 N Broadway Ave, Tyler.
• The Salvation Army of Beaumont will be open Thursday from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 pm - 4:00 p.m. at 2350 IH 10 East, Beaumont.
• Commerce Center will be open Thursday from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. at 1017 US-59 Loop N, Livingston. Only service animals are allowed.
• Onalaska Volunteer Fire Department Station 51 will be open Thursday from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. at 181 Old Groveton Rd, Onalaska.
• The Coldspring Area Public Library will be open Thursday from 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. at 14221 Hwy 150 W, Coldspring. Only service animals are allowed.
• The Mamie George Community Center at 111 Collins Road in Richmond will be open Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• The South Regional Library will be open Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 2101 Lake Robbins Dr, The Woodlands.
• The Conroe Central Library will be open Thursday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 104 I-45 N, Conroe.
• The West Branch Library will be open Thursday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 202 Bessie Price Owen Dr, Montgomery.
• The R. B. Tullis Branch Library will be open Thursday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 21569 US-59, New Caney.
• The La Marque Community Room will be open at 1109 Bayou Rd, La Marque, TX, 77568.
• The Crystal Beach Community Church will be open from 2 p.m. - 8 p.m. at 1825 Highway 87, Port Bolivar, TX, 77650.
• The Kemah Community Center will be open from 2 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. at 800 Harris Ave, Kemah, TX, 77565.
• The West End Annex will be open from 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. at 13805 Stewart Rd, Galveston, TX, 77554.
• The Dickinson High School campus will be open 24/7 at 3800 Baker Dr, Dickinson, TX, 77539.
• The Friendswood Activity Building will be open from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at 416 Morningside Dr, Friendswood, TX, 77546.
• The Dickinson Public Library will be open from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. at 4411 State Hwy 3, Dickinson, TX, 77539.
• The Friendswood Library will be open from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at 416 S Friendswood Dr, Friendswood, TX, 77546.
• The McGuire Dent Recreation Center will be open from 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. at 2222 28th St, Galveston, TX, 77550.
• The Greater New Hope Missionary Baptist Church will be open from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. at 1725 State Hwy 3, Dickinson, TX, 77539.
• The Jamaica Beach City Hall will be open 24/7 at 16628 San Luis Pass, Jamaica Beach, TX, 77554.
• The Thelma Webber Community Center will be open from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. at 14304 Beriton Street, Santa Fe, TX, 77510.

Government and community resources may be available to help with recovery. Organizations like the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and local volunteer organizations can help you find food, shelter and supplies, as well as assist you with clean-up efforts. Here are some common disaster resources and how to contact them:

• Call or text 800-985-5990 for crisis counseling from SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline.
• Call 800-733-2767 to get help from the American Red Cross, including housing and shelter, financial assistance, health services and mental health assistance.
• Call 211 or 877-541-7905 for information on Texas disaster and social services, including local mental health care resources.
• Call 311 for debris pickup, transportation, and other city services.
• Call 800-252-3439 for help with insurance-related questions from the Texas Department of Insurance, and see more recovery tips from them here.
• Call 800-504-7030 if you are low-income and need legal assistance related to natural disasters and documents to get help from the State Bar of Texas.
• Call the Crisis Cleanup hotline at 979-217-3791 to receive free help to clean up your home. The hotline will be open through July 19 and will connect people to volunteers from relief organizations and community groups.

While service restoration efforts are continuous across east Texas, Optimum, a local provider of Wi-Fi, has set up a 24/7 Wi-Fi hotspot in Conroe and is offering free Wi-Fi and charging access at local retail stores in Conroe, Montgomery, and New Caney, for customers in need. Below are the locations and times they are open.

• Optimum WiFi trailer at the Owen Theatre and Founders Plaza at 225 Metcalf St., Conroe
• WiFi hotspot at the New Caney Optimum Store from Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 20304 US-59 Ste A, New Caney
• WiFi hotspot at the Conroe Optimum Store from Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. at 903 N Loop 336 W, Conroe
• WiFi hotspot at the in-store Charging at Montgomery Optimum Store from Monday – Friday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. at 15264 TX-105 Suite 200, Montgomery

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will be distributing food to those in need Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Mamie George Community Center at 111 Collins Road in Richmond and the Beacon of Hope Center at 4700 Broadway in Galveston. The organization said it will provide limited financial assistance starting next week and will share more details on its social media and website.

Compassion United will host a mobile food distribution on Saturday, July 14, at 9 a.m., in partnership with the Montgomery County Food Bank, at Lewis Park 501 Park Pl, Conroe, TX 7730

The religious group Texans on Mission is providing assistance removing fallen trees or limbs. Fill out the request form on their website and someone will contact you.

Disaster declarations issued by the governor and president have opened the door to federal funds, and Texans in approved counties can now apply for recovery assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Residents in the following counties may be eligible for this assistance:

• Brazoria
• Chambers
• Galveston
• Harris
• Jackson
• Jasper
• Jefferson
• Liberty
• Matagorda
• Montgomery
• Orange
• Polk
• San Jacinto
• Walker
• Wharton

Individuals and families in these approved counties may be eligible for the following assistance:

• Serious Needs Assistance: a one-time $750 payment per household for essential items like food, water, baby formula, breast feeding supplies, medication and other emergency supplies.
• Displacement Assistance: money to help people stay in a hotel, with family and friends or other options while they look for a more permanent housing solution if they cannot return to their home because of the disaster.
• Money for rental assistance, basic home repairs, personal property losses and other eligible expenses related to Hurricane Beryl.

People cannot receive disaster and insurance assistance for the same damages, so insured Texans should file claims through their existing policies before applying for FEMA assistance. Take photos and document any damage to your property to submit it to the state, your insurance or FEMA.

If you have access to WiFi and power, using the website DisasterAssistance.gov. is the fastest and easiest way to apply, according to FEMA. You can also use the FEMA App for mobile devices to apply or to look for a Disaster Recovery Center where people can help you. Or you can call FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 every day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., but wait times may be longer than usual. If you have accessibility needs, FEMA recommends watching this accessible video on how to apply.

Here’s more on what type of assistance FEMA typically provides and how to navigate the application process.

Additional counties may be added to the list if requested by the state and proven necessary through damage assessments, FEMA said. To help the state continue to assess damages, Texans can report damages through the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool.https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/08/hurricane-tropical-storm-beryl-safety-how-to-help/?edit&draft#

How to get mental health support

It is normal for people to experience shock in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Those with existing mental health conditions may see increased stress, while others focusing on recovery at the moment may feel stress and trauma later.

Symptoms include aches, trouble sleeping, changes in appetite, loss of motivation, increased frustration and feelings of overwhelm, sadness, numbness, loneliness and exhaustion.

Most stress responses are temporary but seek help if they persist for over two weeks. Signs of greater emotional distress include hopelessness, guilt, difficulty readjusting, excessive smoking, drinking, drug use or thoughts of self-harm, according to SAMHSA.

SAMHSA runs the Disaster Distress Helpline to provide support to people experiencing emotional distress related to disasters, including hurricanes. The helpline operates year-round, 24 hours a day and is free and confidential. You can call or text 800-985-5990 to be connected with a trained crisis counselor who can provide counseling, healthy coping tips and more information on signs of emotional distress. Crisis counselors can also refer you to local resources for additional support.

Trained crisis counselors are also available through the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

Read more tips about how to take care of your mental health during natural disasters here.

How to help Texans affected by Beryl

The Houston Food Bank has a disaster relief fund accepting monetary donations for food, water and other necessary supplies. Once disaster needs are met, any remaining funds will help provide food for people facing hunger across southeast Texas.

The American Red Cross Texas Gulf Coast has asked for volunteers to assist in Beryl aid operations. You can find more information and sign up to volunteer with the Red Cross here. For the latest from the Gulf Coast chapter, you can also follow their Facebook page.

The Salvation Army said it plans to mobilize trained staff and volunteers to the region to assist in recovery efforts focused on feeding people and “emotional and spiritual care.” You can visit their Texas division website to get involved or donate. They also plan to offer meals to those who require assistance utilizing 10 mobile kitchens across the Houston area, which are anticipated to begin in affected communities on Tuesday.

GoFundMe has collected verified fundraisers by people affected by Beryl and has tips on how to help here.

The nonprofit World Central Kitchen said it is providing and rescue teams, meals and water for Texans in the coastal city of Sargent. You can donate to them here.

Compassion United is seeking volunteers for disaster relief and disaster relief distribution.

You can try websites like Charity Navigator and GuideStar to vet nonprofits you’re not familiar with.

If you know of any other resources we should include, feel free to let us know at community@texastribune.org.

Mae Lackey, Perla Trevizo, Julia Guilbeau and Nina Banks contributed to this reporting.

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