Fallen trees, house fire, flooding and heat: Hurricane Beryl’s deaths climb to 11

HOUSTON, Texas – Hurricane Beryl hit the Texas Coast on July 8, leaving behind downed trees, significant home and business damage, and the loss of power lasting more than a week.

Multiple people died as a result of Beryl, including a Houston Police Department employee who was trapped in floodwaters while trying to get to work. In total, 11 people died during the hurricane.

Here’s what we know about their deaths:

Tree in house

Hours after the storm hit, KPRC 2 learned that a tree fell on a house in Atascocita, killing a 53-year-old man. The man was reportedly sitting in the house with his family when the oak tree fell on the roof, causing the structure to fall on top of him.

• Hurricane Beryl causes tree to crush Atascocita home, killing man inside

In a separate incident in northwest Houston, a tree fell on another home, killing a 74-year-old woman.

• Tree crashes through northwest Houston roof, killing grandmother

Montgomery County announced that a man in his 40s died while operating a tractor. Officials said a tree fell on him.

House fire

Houston Fire Department Chief Sam Pena confirmed on Monday that one person died during a house fire near Hobby Airport. It has not yet been confirmed that the fire was caused by the storm, but Pena said his department is looking into it.

• 1 killed during house fire Monday morning, Houston fire chief says unclear if it was due to Hurricane Beryl

Flooding

A Houston Police Department employee died while driving through high waters to get to work during the Hurricane.

Russell Richardson, 54, was an Information Security Officer in the Office of Technology Services with HPD.

• HPD employee dies in Hurricane Beryl floodwaters while on his way to work

After the storm passed, a 77-year-old man was found inside of a submerged vehicle near White Oak Bayou. Police said the bayou’s current pushed the vehicle against a wall and the vehicle was submerged.

Heat-related

Two men and a woman reportedly died after Hurricane Beryl knocked out power for more than 2.1 customers. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Science said that the victims died from hyperthermia due to environmental heat exposure due to loss of electricity during and after Beryl.

• 3 heat-related deaths reported due to power outages caused by Hurricane Beryl

Unknown

Authorities found two people dead inside of a tent in a wooded area in Magnolia on Monday. Their cause of death is still under investigation.