Lucía Nagera Balcaza : “Beryl Churns in Gulf of Mexico, Texas Braces”

TULUM, Mexico (AP) — After wreaking havoc on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Tropical Storm Beryl has regrouped in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to regain hurricane strength by Saturday. The storm, which became the earliest to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, caused devastation in the Caribbean islands, claiming at least 11 lives.

As it made its way through Mexico, Beryl was downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane, toppling trees but fortunately causing no injuries or fatalities. Now, as it heads towards the Texas coast, officials are urging residents to prepare for potential impact.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center has issued warnings of damaging hurricane-force winds and life-threatening storm surges in northeastern Mexico and the lower and middle Texas coast. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick declared a pre-emptive disaster in 40 counties, urging coastal communities to stay vigilant.

Cities along the Texas coast have initiated voluntary evacuations in low-lying areas prone to flooding, banned beach camping, and advised tourists to move their recreational vehicles from coastal parks. Corpus Christi, in particular, saw a rush for sandbags as residents prepared for potential flooding.

Before reaching Mexico, shelters were set up in schools and hotels to accommodate evacuees. As the storm approached Tulum, officials urged residents to seek safety, evacuate beachside hotels, and even relocated sea turtle eggs to protect them from the storm surge.

Tourists visiting Tulum also took precautions, with one visitor from Boise, Idaho, ensuring they had enough water to weather the storm. Despite the destruction caused by Beryl in the Caribbean, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness promised swift relief for affected residents.

Mexican authorities had taken measures to evacuate some tourists and residents from low-lying areas around the Yucatan Peninsula before Beryl made landfall. Although no casualties have been reported, nearly half of Tulum remains without electricity, with cleanup efforts underway.

As Texas braces for Beryl’s impact, residents are urged to stay informed and prepared for potential flooding, heavy rain, and strong winds. The storm’s path remains uncertain, but authorities are closely monitoring its progression to ensure the safety of coastal communities.

Stay tuned for further updates on Tropical Storm Beryl as it approaches the Texas coast.

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Contributing to this report: John Myers Jr. and Renloy Trail in Kingston, Jamaica; Mark Stevenson and Megan Janetsky in Mexico City; Coral Murphy Marcos in San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Lucanus Ollivierre on Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.