Houston — July 8, 2024: The City of Houston’s Solid Waste Management Department (SWM) announces additional service interruptions for this week. Due to the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl’s high winds and rain across the City, SWM will operate a modified collection schedule for the remainder of the week. For additional information, download the HTX Collects mobile application or contact the 3-1-1 call center. Residents can also use the 3-1-1 online portal at houstontx.gov/311 to report any storm-related concerns. Please see the collection schedule changes below:
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
Monday’s garbage and heavy tree waste will be collected. Storm debris collections will resume. All six Neighborhood Depositories will reopen, but all other facilities will remain closed. Recycling and yard waste services will be suspended for the remainder of the week and will be collected on your next regularly scheduled collection day.
Additionally, SWM will conduct city-wide damage assessments from Hurricane Beryl.
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Tuesday’s garbage, heavy tree waste, and storm debris will be collected. All SWM facilities will reopen.
Thursday, July 11, 2024
Thursday’s garbage, heavy tree waste, and storm debris will be collected.
Friday, July 12, 2024
Friday’s garbage, heavy tree waste, and storm debris will be collected.
Saturday, July 13, 2024
Heavy tree waste and storm debris operations will continue.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Beryl is now a tropical depression and has moved out of Texas. Beryl left behind significant flooding and damage across the region.
Isolated showers are still possible Tuesday afternoon mainly along the coast as deeper tropical moisture remains.
Temperatures Tuesday morning will be in the low 70s, but rebound into the low 90s and with the high humidity, heat index values will make it feel like the triple digits in the afternoon. That’s why a Heat Advisory is in place for Tuesday.
How long will flooding last?
With between five to 10, upwards of 12, inches of rain falling within less than 12 hours in southeast Texas, it will take a minute for all this flooding to clear streets, roadways, and highways Monday. Floodwaters need to flow through our bayous, creeks, and streams, causing street flooding. Additionally, Galveston Bay experienced a surge between two and six feet, which will initially limit floodwaters from draining into the bay. That said, area floods and street flooding could linger Tuesday morning, with conditions improving through the day. Debris could also be on roads and must clear before roads are passable.
What does the rest of the week look like?
There’s still the opportunity for a few scattered tropical downpours, mainly along the coast, on Tuesday in the wake of Beryl. Generally, though, the forecast does look drier for the rest of the week. This is good news for those floodwaters as they can drain through the watershed and out to Galveston Bay throughout the week. Unfortunately, those Houston summertime temperatures will be back in the 90s all week long, so those without power will battle some steamy conditions.
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Republican National Committee moved Monday to adopt a party platform that reflects former President Donald Trump’s position opposing a federal abortion ban and ceding limits to states, omitting the explicit basis for a national ban for the first time in 40 years.
Trump imposed his priorities on the RNC’s platform committee as he seeks to steer clear during his campaign of strict abortion language, even while taking credit for setting up the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court. Trump appointed three of the six justices who voted in the majority to overturn the 1973 precedent that established a national right to have an abortion.
The scaled-down platform — just 16 pages and with limited specifics on many key Republican issues — reflects a desire by the Trump campaign to avoid giving Democrats more material for their warnings about the former president’s intentions if he wins back the White House. President Joe Biden’s campaign has repeatedly highlighted the “Project 2025” document produced by Trump allies as well as Trump’s own promises to impose wide-ranging tariffs, replace thousands of government workers with party loyalists, and stage the largest deportation operation in U.S. history.
The policy document sticks to the party’s longstanding principle that the Constitution extends rights to fetuses, but removes language maintaining support for an “amendment to the Constitution and legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to children before birth,” a passage in the party platform first included in 1984.
It asserts, “We believe that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees that no person can be denied life or liberty without due process.” The document also noted “that the states are, therefore, free to pass laws protecting those rights.”
Anti-abortion advocates who had criticized the Trump campaign’s efforts leading up to the platform committee’s meeting largely fell in line Monday.
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of SBA Pro-Life America, praised the committee for reaffirming “its commitment to protect unborn life through the 14th Amendment.”
Dannenfelser stopped short of endorsing the document’s reflection of Trump’s view that the matter rests entirely with states. Under the 14th Amendment, “it is Congress that enacts and enforces its provisions.”
The platform committee began its meeting Monday, a week before the start of the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin where Trump is scheduled to accept his third straight nomination for president.
The platform is a statement of first principles traditionally written by party activists. In 2016, the platform included an endorsement of a 20-week national ban. Trump had supported federal legislation in 2018 that would have banned abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, though the measure fell short of the necessary support in the Senate.
Trump this year has faced months of Democratic criticism over abortion as Biden’s reelection campaign has highlighted that Trump nominated half of the Supreme Court majority that struck down the nationwide right to abortion in 2022.
In promoting the platform document, the campaign released a statement highlighting 20 issues it addresses, including immigration, the economy, energy, taxes, and crime, but omitted any mention of abortion in the subject titles.
Among the vocal abortion opponents on the platform committee, some say the aspiration of a federal ban on abortion after a certain stage in pregnancy must remain a party principle, even if it’s not an immediately attainable policy or one that necessarily helps the Trump campaign in November.
“I see that as problematic. We still need these principles clearly stated. Some of these battles are not over,” said Iowa state Rep. Brad Sherman, a platform committee member who supported Trump’s winning Iowa caucus campaign in January and also supports a federal limit on abortion.
Conservative activists who were accustomed to having a seat at the table fumed beforehand over what they said was a secretive process for selecting committee members and the meeting taking place behind closed doors.
“For 40 years, the Republican Party and the GOP platform have massively benefitted from an open and transparent process,” said Tim Chapman, the incoming president of Advancing American Freedom, a foundation headed by Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence.
Trump’s campaign has sought to reshape the Republican National Committee into a campaign vessel. It signaled in a memo last month from senior campaign advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles that “textbook-long platforms … are scrutinized and intentionally misrepresented by our political opponents.”
Trump ally Russ Vought is serving as the policy director of the Republican Party’s platform writing committee while also leading the effort to draft the 180-day agenda for Project 2025, a sweeping proposal for remaking government that Trump said Friday he knew “nothing about” despite having several former aides involved.
After the 2022 midterm elections, Trump blamed Republicans who held strict anti-abortion positions for the party’s failure to secure a larger House majority. He has since been critical of the most stringent abortion bans in individual states.
An AP-NORC poll conducted in June 2023 found that about two-thirds of Americans think abortion should be legal in all or most cases. The poll also found that 6 in 10 Americans think Congress should pass a law guaranteeing access to legal abortion nationwide.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Mayor John Whitmire delivered an urgent message to Houstonians after Beryl slammed southeast Texas: “Don’t let the clear skies fool you. We still have dangerous circumstances.”
City officials are transitioning from rescue to assessment mode, and Whitmire is asking the public to help them help you.
“We still have high water across our city… flooding issues,” Whitmire said in a press conference Monday evening. “It is still dangerous.”
According to Whitmire, every city department is operating at full capacity, with “all hands on deck.” Nothing will go unattended, the mayor said.
Heavy garbage pick-ups will begin on Tuesday, and solid waste will start regular service on Wednesday.
METRO Lift has resumed normal operations, and METRO will begin limited services on Tuesday.
The mayor also mentioned he is working with Public Works and TxDOT to get traffic lights back up and operating.
Beryl was downgraded to a tropical storm, but its powerful punch didn’t let up.
The storm made landfall near Matagorda as a Category 1 hurricane.
It moved inland, quickly producing life-threatening conditions.
Three people were killed, including two people who had trees fall on their homes.
The storm quickly inundated the Houston area, with Whitmire saying there’s water in excess of 10 inches across the city.
First responders have also received several calls for rescues, including one that occurred at SH-288 northbound at 610 South Loop, where a man was spotted on the top of his truck in floodwaters.
Firefighters used a ladder to lift the man to safety, his truck sinking into the high water on 288.
A driver stranded in floodwaters on Highway 288 is safe after the Houston Fire Department lifted him to dry land Monday morning.
Whitmire added that the city received over 400 911 calls in one hour and expected that to increase. Residents are also urged to only use 911 for emergencies. Contact 311 or 211 for other issues.
City officials echoed Whitmire’s warnings asking people to stay off the roads due to debris.
“If you don’t need to be on the street, stay off. If you’re on the street, don’t drive over flooded roadways,” said Houston Fire Department Chief Samuel Peña.
Another concern for first responders is the possibility of carbon monoxide calls due to people using generators, which should be kept away from homes and never brought inside.
Meanwhile, the Houston Police Department said it made 15 high water rescue calls, saving eight people.
The concern for many, though, is how long the power will be out, especially as night falls and temperatures rise.
CenterPoint has been reporting more than 2.2 million customers without power as of 12:52 p.m.
With that, the Houston Police Department said it would have officers in both marked and unmarked vehicles to patrol areas without electricity.
Houston Public Works said during the briefing Monday morning that while most of its facilities were on a backup generator, the water supply is safe.
“Our streets are going to drain slower than we’re used to with an event like this,” said Randy Macchi, chief operating officer with HPW, explaining that’s why they’re asking everybody to stay home.
Widespread wind damage and debris aren’t the only concern for Hurricane Beryl victims in southeast Texas.
We want to get storm victims back on their feet with access to the most important essentials: fresh food, clean water, shelter, and even mental health services.
ABC13 is updating this list of resources. Submit relief tips here.
Food Assistance
Houston Food Bank said it is closely monitoring conditions and will provide relief through its 1,600 community partners across SE Texas.
Houston Food Bank has partners in Harris, Fort Bend, Galveston, Montgomery, Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Chambers, Grimes, Liberty, Madison, Robertson, San Jacinto, Trinity, Walker, Waller and Washington counties.
Disaster Assistance
If you have lost your home in Hurricane Beryl, call the American Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767.
While FEMA assistance for Beryl victims has not been announced, you can visit DisasterAssistance.org or call 1-800-621-3362 with questions.
Mental Health
If you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health crisis or considering suicide, call or text 988.
Urgent Mental Health Services
Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 9-8-8, option #1
24/7 Crisis Text Line: Text TX to 741741
Texas 2-1-1: Dial 2-1-1, option #8
Non-Urgent Mental Health Services in Harris Co.: 866-970-4770
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Over 1.7 million households are still without power a day after Beryl lashed southeast Texas and left behind a path of darkness and destruction.
CenterPoint Energy, the primary power provider for Houston, said customers should expect a multi-day process to restore their electricity.
The ongoing outages come as a Heat Advisory was issued for much of the Houston area on Tuesday. Temperatures are expected to reach the low 90s by the afternoon, and with high humidity, heat index values will make it feel like the triple digits.
Cooling centers will open across the Houston area to help people without air conditioning during the Heat Advisory.
On Monday evening, Alyssa Oshodi, the company’s director of communications, told Eyewitness News they are confident about a multiple-day event to assess the damage to its system and restore power.
Over 2.2 million customers were without power during Beryl’s height — more than 90% of CenterPoint Energy customers.
CenterPoint explained that 12,000 additional field resources were deployed from outside agencies to assist their crews. Chicago’s ConEd was among the companies providing workers to the region.
According to Oshodi, CenterPoint is prioritizing areas where crews can restore more customers and where there are critical care facilities — like nursing homes and assisted living centers.
So, when should customers get back power? CenterPoint said it expects to restore 1 million impacted customers by the end of the day on Wednesday.
“While we tracked the projected path, intensity and timing for Hurricane Beryl closely for many days, this storm proved the unpredictability of hurricanes as it delivered a powerful blow across our service territory and impacted a lot of lives,” Lynnae Wilson, CenterPoint Energy’s senior vice president, said. “We know we have important work ahead for our customers who depend on us, especially during the hot summer months.”
Another regional electricity provider, Entergy, reported about 201,000 outages as of noon on Monday, with the majority located in Montgomery, Jefferson, Walker, and Liberty counties. The count included more than 6,100 Galveston County customers, including the entire Bolivar Peninsula.
For tomorrow, Tuesday, July 9th , non-essential county buildings will remain closed to the public. The County’s courthouse facilities will also remain closed to the public. No dockets are scheduled for Tuesday and jury service has been canceled. The Juvenile Justice Center is also closed; Juvenile Detention Hearings will not be held on Tuesday, July 9th . The Joint Processing Center remains open and staffed by essential personnel.
About the Office of County Administration: Established by Commissioners Court in June 2021, the Office of County Administration (OCA) is tasked with supervising day-to-day operations and implementing Commissioners Court’s priorities and policies for Harris County. For more information, visit oca.harriscountytx.gov.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Two people are dead after trees fell on top of homes across the Houston area as Hurricane Beryl lashed southeast Texas on Monday morning, officials said.
Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said the first incident happened in the 20900 block of Heather Grove Court in the Atascocita area.
A 911 caller said a tree fell through the roof of their home and a man was trapped and unresponsive.
In a later update, Pct. 4 confirmed the man died.
In a post on social media, Herman said the northbound lanes of Heather Grove Court were blocked by a tree, and power lines were down nearby at Kings River Drive and Water Point Trail.
Residents are being asked to avoid the area if possible.
The second incident happened in the 17400 block of Rustic Canyon Trail in the Ponderosa Forest neighborhood in north Harris County.
A 911 caller said a tree fell through the roof of her grandmother’s home, according to Pct. 4.
In a later update, Pct. 4 said the victim was confirmed dead at the scene. Family members told ABC13 the woman was 73-year-old Maria Laredo.
“Please keep her family in your prayers,” Herman said in a post on social media. “Constable Deputies are continuing the investigation on scene.”
Beryl claimed a third life, when a woman died in a house fire in southeast Houston. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Hurricane Beryl lashes Texas with strong winds and heavy rain
Hurricane Beryl lashed Texas with strong winds and heavy rain on Monday as it churned inland, forcing the closure of oil ports, the cancellation of hundreds of flights, and leaving nearly 2 million homes and businesses without power.
Beryl, the season’s earliest Category 5 hurricane on record, made landfall near the coastal town of Matagorda, Texas early in the day. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that the hurricane pounded the coast with dangerous storm surges and heavy rain.
The storm, which was expected to rapidly weaken as it moved inland, swept a destructive path through Jamaica, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines last week, killing at least 11 people and toppling buildings and power lines.
In Texas, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez stated on social media platform X that preliminary information indicated one person died after a tree fell on a house.
In Texas, the biggest U.S. oil and natural gas-producing state, the energy industry braced for Beryl’s impact. The powerful storm slowed refining activity and prompted the evacuation of some production sites.
“Life-threatening storm surge and heavy rainfall are ongoing across portions of Texas. Damaging winds ongoing along the coast, with strong winds moving inland,” the NHC said, adding that Beryl was now expected to lose power.
Following warnings that it could be a deadly storm for communities in its path, residents rushed to board up windows and stock up on fuel and other essential supplies. Before daybreak, strong gusts and torrential rain lashed cities and towns such as Galveston, Sargent, Lake Jackson, and Freeport, television footage showed.
The storm had strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane as it crossed the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall, but the NHC said it was now expected to weaken rapidly.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Drivers, keep an eye on high-water locations on Houston-area roads and drive safely as Hurricane Beryl moves through southeast Texas.
