HOUSTON – Houston Mayor John Whitmire, along with several Harris County Commissioners, spoke on the city’s preparedness ahead of Beryl.
“We have to take Beryl very very serious,” Whitmire said.
Recommended Videos
Whitmire says residents need to stay off the roads and bring in any loose items, such as patio furniture, in preparation for Beryl’s winds.
He says he has been in touch with Houston ISD officials who say there will be no summer school Monday or Tuesday.
City employees have been asked to work from home on Monday unless they are tier 1 first responders. Once Beryl comes through, the city will evaluate the situation for city employees for Tuesday.
Whitmire says municipal court and other services have been suspended for Monday.
Other counties are also preparing to assist each other during Beryl, Whitmire said, noting both Montgomery and Fort Bend County officials have pledged their support for each other during this time.
“Under the best information that we just received from the National Weather Service, around midnight things will become very tense. I want Houstonians to know the conditions you go to sleep under tonight will not be the same when you wake up in the morning,” Whitmire said.
Whitmire also emphasized the best way people can help the city during the storm is by staying home and off the roads.
“How can Houstonians help us help them? By staying at home, looking out for your family, your neighbors, your pets.” he said.
He also emphasized to look after senior citizens during this time.
“Let’s get through this night, tomorrow, like only Houston knows how,” he said. ““Be smart, be safe, stay off the roads, furniture outside, take your lawn chair, your furniture inside.”
Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia also spoke and said all precinct 2 operational facilities will be closed Monday. They are also closely watching the potential for storm surge in coastal cities of Harris County.
“We are expecting storm surge to be a challenge to our coastal cities,” Garcia said.
He said to be mindful if you live in an area that is prone to flooding.
“If you have experienced flood conditions before, think about it now. Now is the time to remove yourself from that potential risk so we don’t have to ask our first responders to go out there and do dangerous rescue operations unnecessarily,” he said.
Officials will be closely monitoring the water levels of the San Jacinto River during Beryl.
Garcia also said people need to be at their location where they are going to ride out Beryl and off the roads by 10 p.m.
Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey also spoke and said they are ready in precinct 3.
“As we know this isn’t our first rodeo,” Ramsey said.
Ramsey said crews have already been deployed to areas that are flood prone in precinct 3.