07/07/2024
TxDOT Monitors Hurricane Beryl
Good afternoon,
Please help us share this information to all Texans through your legislative social media or other communication to your constituents.
Hurricane Beryl is now moving in a northwestwardly direction and is expected to intensify to hurricane strength again by this afternoon. It is forecasted to make landfall as a Category One Hurricane around the mid-coast of Texas, specifically 30-40 miles on either side of Matagorda Bay, in the pre-dawn hours of Monday. There is still a possibility Hurricane Beryl will be a Category Two Hurricane by landfall. The storm will then move northeastwardly through the eastern third of Texas through Tuesday.
The TxDOT Districts that are anticipating adverse weather are sweeping evacuation lanes, clearing drains, and pre-staging barricades. TxDOT crews & Emergency Operation Center staff in the impacted areas are prepared to respond as needed and stand ready. TxDOT’s Port Aransas Ferry Operations in the Corpus Christi District closed at 12 p.m. today, while the Houston District’s Bolivar Ferry Operations will remain open for evacuations.
TxDOT encourages the traveling public to stay off the roads during inclement weather. However, if one must travel, do so with caution, and please check road conditions and closures online at https://drivetexas.org/, use the DriveTexas app on any mobile device, or call 1-800-452-9292. DriveTexas provides as close to real-time information as possible and is a vital tool for the public during emergencies to distribute information about road closures. Along with finding road closures, the site provides information about construction zones, flooding, damage, and accidents.
As a reminder, while TxDOT’s primary focus remains on maintaining the State Highway System, TxDOT Districts assist local governments whenever possible. Per Texas law, all local assistance requests (S.T.A.R.) must come from a County Judge. The State of Texas Assistance Request (S.T.A.R.) is a resource request and fulfillment process that entities can use in all phases of emergency management to obtain necessary resources from the State Operation Center. For more information regarding emergency operations, please visit TxDOT’s Emergency Operations, including hurricane preparation, S.T.A.R. requests, and classification of tier state roadways.
Information about TxDOT’s ongoing activities during the hurricane can also be found on Twitter (). Find your local TxDOT District Twitter feed here. Should you have questions relating to this weather event and transportation issues please do not hesitate to reach out to me at 512-917-8856 or [email protected]. TxDOT remains committed to keeping the public safe during this time and will answer any questions that might arise.