[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 112 (Monday, July 8, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S4220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                            Hurricane Beryl

  Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, early this morning, Hurricane Beryl made 
landfall in Texas as a category 1 hurricane.
  Texas, and particularly Southeast Texas and the Houston area, and all 
up and down the gulf coast, are no stranger to hurricanes.
  This one struck the Texas coast near Matagorda, with torrential rain 
and intense storm surge, which is very dangerous, as you know, and 
sustained winds of 80 miles per hour. Throughout the day, Beryl has 
taken its sweet time traveling the expanse of our State, bearing down 
on our communities in the southeast and eastern parts of the State with 
strong winds, a lot of rain, a lot of flooding, and even tornadoes.
  More than 2.7 million Texans have lost power, and that number is 
expected to rise as the storm continues to move its way across the 
State. Sadly, at least two people have died so far, mainly due to trees 
falling on their homes.
  I have reached out to the county judges and mayors in some of the 
hardest hit areas and assured them that we are monitoring the 
situation, but, more importantly, we are standing by, ready to do 
anything we can to be of assistance. And, of course, we will be working 
with Governor Abbott and the State officials when it comes to seeking 
assistance at the Federal level for disaster relief.
  By tomorrow morning, the worst effects of Hurricane Beryl should be 
behind us, and we will have a better sense of the full extent of the 
damage caused by the storm. Until then, I urge all of my fellow Texans 
to follow the guidance of local authorities and do everything possible 
to stay safe.
  There is an expression--``turn around; don't drown''--which cautions 
people not to drive into standing water in the roadway. That certainly 
can't be said enough. Things, stuff, is replaceable. People are not.
  As always, I am incredibly thankful to the first responders who are 
putting their own lives on the line to support their communities and 
the many folks who are working with the utilities trying to get power 
back on line as well. In many areas, search-and-rescue operations began 
before the Sun even rose this morning.

  So thank you to those who are on the frontlines saving lives as 
Hurricane Beryl bears down on our State and to the linemen, again, 
repairing the downed lines as quickly as possible.