Hurricane Beryl: What Houston and Texas residents know

HOUSTON — As I write this update at 3 p.m. Houston time Monday, the islands of the Lesser Antilles are just beginning to recover from the devastating blow caused by Hurricane Beryl.

Our hearts sink knowing that the storm was a Category 4 with 150 mph winds and looks set to become the earliest Category 5 hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin, and our stomachs clench a little seeing that the National Hurricane Center is predicting the storm will traverse the entire Caribbean Sea and eventually reach the Gulf of Mexico as a tropical storm.

Several things come to mind when I look at this projected track. First, IF this track is confirmed, it will be a great outcome for the Houston-Galveston area. We will see increased waves and surf, beach erosion, and coastal flooding at high tide, and that’s about it. Wonderful, compared to the alternative of a direct lightning strike from a powerful hurricane.

There is still plenty of time left and the forecast can change. I know it is also possible that Beryl will skirt the northern edge of the forecast cone and push the Yucatan Channel into the Gulf as a much more powerful system. It is not the most likely outcome, but it is within the realm of possibility. My stomach tightens again.

Like you, my children live here, my extended family lives here, and I worry about them when a storm threatens. It’s stressful. I’ve learned that the best way to relieve stress is to stay informed and prepared. So what do I tell them to do right now? Stick to the basics.

1. Coastal residents: Review your evacuation plan. Know which route to take and where you will go.
2. Inland Residents: Have food, water and medicine on hand for 5 days.
3. Stay informed: Check the weather at least once a day. Twice is better.

These actions put us all in the best possible position. Prepared for the worst while hoping for the best. And when Beryl “hopefully” fails us, you will be ready with supplies and a plan of action to take with you for the remainder of what looks to be just the beginning of a VERY busy hurricane season.

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