MATAGORDA COUNTY, Texas – As Beryl nears landfall on the Texas Coast, residents and business owners are preparing, as are your local news reporters, photographers, and producers who work tirelessly to bring you updates.
At 11 p.m., Beryl was upgraded from a tropical storm to a hurricane as it inches closer to the Texas Coast. Beryl is expected to make landfall around 2 a.m. Monday near Matagorda, but its winds and rains will batter multiple communities as it continues to move inland throughout Monday.
Beryl has a history of shifting to the right and east of the forecast cone. This slight shift east means stronger tropical-storm-force winds for southeast Texas. Galveston, Houston, Pearland, Pasadena, Katy, The Woodlands, and Liberty will experience winds from 58 to 73 MPH. Areas farther west like Needville, Sugar Land, Rosharon, Sargent, Matagorda, Port Lavaca, Wharton, and El Campo can expect wind gusts near 110 MPH. This wind forecast suggests widespread power outages, downed trees, and potential damage to roofs.
Many areas, such as Matagorda County, which is expected to see the hurricane’s effects first, have witnessed significant evacuations. However, KPRC 2 News reporter Gage Goulding and his photographer are braving the storm to bring you the latest updates.
Before entering an area likely to be heavily impacted by a storm, or in this case a hurricane, Gage emphasizes the importance of planning and logistics to ensure their safety. “It’s really important for people at home because they see us out here and they think we are in these big trucks just playing around, but that’s not the case. There are a lot of conversations, planning, and logistics that go into picking spots strategically and making sure that we are safe,” Gage said. “We drove around, we looked at our escape routes, and planned the timing. These are all things to consider if you stay, though it’s not advisable. We always take these considerations into account when we enter these areas.”