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Tropical Storm Beryl: How to get help and help Texans

By María Méndez and Mikayla Higgins

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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:

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:

If you lose power and have perishable food items:

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:

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:

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:

How to get recovery assistance 

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

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:

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.

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:

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

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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