Texas Emergency Management Officials Urge Texans to Keep An Eye on the Gulf This Holiday Week

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July 2, 2024
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Texas Emergency Management Officials Urge Texans to Keep An Eye on the Gulf This Holiday Week

TDEM Urges Texans to Engage in Personal Preparedness As Hurricane Beryl Moves West

AUSTIN – With Hurricane Beryl moving West across the Caribbean, the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) is urging Texans that live in and are visiting coastal communities for the Fourth of July holiday to keep an eye on the Gulf, heed warnings of local officials, and have a plan in place should tropical weather impacts reach the Texas coast.

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring two tropical weather systems in the Atlantic Basin. The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center shows Hurricane Beryl is a dangerous Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph. Hurricane Beryl is forecast to continue moving west-northwest through the next seven days, and Texas is now in the cone of uncertainty. Hurricane Beryl is forecast to impact the Yucatan Peninsula on Friday, and re-emerge over the southern Gulf of Mexico early Saturday morning. Interests along the Texas Gulf Coast should closely monitor this system & prepare now for any potential impacts.

“TDEM urges Texans to take appropriate measures to ensure this holiday weekend remains happy and safe for all,” said Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd. “While Texans take time to enjoy the holiday weekend with family and friends, it’s important to stay weather aware, pay close attention to the rapidly-changing forecasts, and don’t be caught without an emergency plan.”

TDEM, along with local, state, and federal partners from across Texas, continues to take proactive steps to prepare for any tropical weather impacts to Texas – reviewing hurricane response planning documents, completing a multi-day hurricane exercise, and ensuring state emergency response assets are prepared for potential deployment.

"The State of Texas and Texas Emergency Management officials are closely monitoring the tropics and are prepared for the possibility of upcoming tropical weather impacts in the state," said Seth W. Christensen, TDEM's Chief of Media, Communications, and Preparedness. "Texans are encouraged to prioritize personal preparedness and remain ready ahead of the next weather event."

TDEM reminds Texans to stay informed, monitor local weather forecasts, follow directions from local officials, make an emergency plan, review hurricane evacuation routes, build a kit containing emergency supplies, and consider reviewing flood risk and insurance coverage.

Texas are encouraged to visit the Texas Hurricane Center at gov.texas.gov/hurricane and ready.gov/hurricanes for preparedness resources and safety tips. Additional safety information is available at TexasReady.gov. Beach safety tips are available through weather.gov and rip current safety tips can be found at noaa.gov. Preparedness tips can also be found at tdem.texas.gov/prepare.

The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season began on June 1 and runs through November 30.