Tropical Storm Beryl brought gusty winds and heavy rain to southeast Texas on Monday. At least three people died. Several highways were flooded. The ports used for transportation of fuel oil have been closed. More than 1,300 flights have been cancelled. More than 27 lakh people have lost power in their homes and businesses.

According to the US National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Beryl is the first category 5 (very dangerous) hurricane recorded in the Atlantic Ocean this season. It weakened slightly after hitting the Texas coastal town of Matagarda. In addition to heavy rains, huge waves hit the coast. Then Beryl hit Houston. These conditions may develop into tornadoes in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas.

Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said yesterday in a separate incident in Houston, a 53-year-old man and a 74-year-old woman were crushed to death by falling trees on their houses. Apart from this, one person drowned while going to work by subway.

Texas is the largest oil and gas producing state in the United States. Beryl’s influence has slowed fuel oil refining there. People have been evacuated from some production facilities.

Thomas Gleason, chair of the Texas Public Utilities Commission, said rescue workers were still working on the rescue. As a result, the economic losses could not be quantified. A strong wind is still blowing. It may take a few more days for the power connection to be restored.

Nim Kidd, head of the Texas Department of Emergency Management, said more than 2,500 people have been deployed across the state to participate in emergency rescue operations.

The Biden administration said members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the US Coast Guard were assisting in the search and rescue effort. Apart from this, FEMA is ready with food, water and generators.