HOUSTON, Texas – A week after Hurricane Beryl hit the Texas Coast on July 8, Houston Mayor John Whitmire called for a special emergency council meeting to extend the city’s local disaster declaration.
The extension of the Local State of Disaster for the City of Houston was unanimously passed Monday.
The city’s emergency management coordinator recommended that the city council approve an ordinance to authorize the extension of the local state of disaster proclamation that Mayor Whitmire issued on July 8, 2024, in response to the imminent threat to the people and communities of Houston resulting from Hurricane Beryl, which caused hurricane-force winds, property damage, a tremendous amount of debris, due in part, to numerous downed trees, and prolonged power outages.
The proclamation creates additional authority and resources from both state and federal partners to assist with citywide storm recovery.
During the special council meeting, which lasted about 10 minutes, a resident of the Oak Forest neighborhood grilled the council members about power outages and CenterPoint’s response to Hurricane Beryl.
The council said they are working with CenterPoint to get an accurate outage tracker map and update on when power will be restored to those who still remain powerless.
Before ending the meeting, Whitmire said the Public Utility Commission of Texas will be holding a meeting with CenterPoint on July 25 at 9:30 a.m. in Austin, Texas to discuss in-depth Hurricane Beryl and their response.