BY AUBREY VOGEL CONTRIBUTIONS BY JOVANNA AGUILAR, MELISSA ENAJE, WESLEY GARDNER, VANESSA HOLT, EMILY LINCKE, HANNAH NORTON, JESSICA SHORTEN & HALEY VELASCO
Looking ahead
Zooming out
What they’re saying
Both state and federal o cials have played a part in response to Beryl for the Greater Houston area with disaster declarations and ongoing investigations to why the area was not prepared for a Category 1 hurricane.
Beryl marks the rst hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season, which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting will be above average with: • Eight to 13 hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or higher • Four to seven major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher Erik Hooks, deputy administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said he believes being prepared for hurricanes is essential and residents should plan now rather than hours before the storm is expected to roll in. “Understand your risk, and put a plan in place so that you’re prepared when disaster strikes. That’s what resilience is all about,” he said.
“I just don’t think that [CenterPoint was]
Sugar Land
prepared for the event that we have right now, and I think they need to kick it up a couple of notches.” JOE ZIMMERMAN, SUGAR LAND MAYOR
Response timeline
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issues disaster declaration for 40 counties President Joe Biden approves federal disaster declaration Public Utility Commission of Texas launches formal investigation into CenterPoint Energy Senate Special Committee on Hurricane and Tropical Storm Preparedness, Recovery and Electricity forms Deadline for CenterPoint Energy to submit storm preparedness plans to Gov. Greg Abbott
July 5
July 8
“We are now focused on recovery and
Missouri City
July 15
rebuilding. Our primary concern remains the safety and well-being of all of our residents.” ROBIN ELACKATT, MISSOURI CITY MAYOR
July 17
July 31
SOURCES: OFFICE OF GOVERNOR, OFFICE OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION OF TEXAS, TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY IMPACT
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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION
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