‘Let’s Get Through This Night’: Houston Mayor John Whitmire Says City Is Ready to Face Beryl

HOUSTON – Houston Mayor John Whitmire and several Harris County commissioners spoke about the city’s preparedness ahead of Beryl.

“We have to take Beryl very seriously,” Whitmire said.

Whitmire said residents should stay off the roads and pack away any loose items, such as lawn furniture, in anticipation of Beryl’s winds.

He said he has been in contact with Houston ISD officials who say there will be no summer school Monday or Tuesday.

City employees have been asked to work from home Monday, unless they are Level 1 first responders. Once Beryl is available, the city will assess the situation for city employees for Tuesday.

Whitmire says municipal court and other services have been suspended for Monday.

Other counties are also preparing to help each other during Beryl, Whitmire said, noting that officials in Montgomery and Fort Bend counties have committed to supporting each other during this time.

“Based on the most recent information from the National Weather Service, things are going to get very tense around midnight. I want Houstonians to know that the conditions they sleep in tonight will not be the same when they wake up in the morning,” Whitmire said.

Whitmire also stressed that the best way for people to help the city during the storm is to stay home and stay off the road.

“How can Houstonians help us? Stay home, take care of your family, your neighbors, your pets,” he said.

He also stressed the need to care for the elderly during this period.

“We’re going to get through tonight, tomorrow, like only Houston can,” he said. “Be smart, be safe, stay off the road, don’t put your furniture outside, take your lawn chair and your furniture inside.”

Adrian Garcia, Commissioner of Harris County Precinct 2, also spoke and said all operational facilities at Precinct 2 will be closed Monday. They are also closely monitoring the risk of storm surge in coastal cities in Harris County.

“We expect storm surge to be a challenge for our coastal cities,” Garcia said.

He advised caution if you live in an area prone to flooding.

“If you have ever experienced flooding, think about it now. It is time to remove yourself from this potential risk so we do not have to ask our first responders to go out and conduct dangerous rescue operations unnecessarily,” he said.

Officials will closely monitor water levels in the San Jacinto River during Beryl.

Garcia also said people must be at the location where they are going to ride their bikes in Beryl and off the roads by 10 p.m.

Harris County District 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey also spoke and said they are ready in District 3.

“As we know, this is not our first rodeo,” Ramsey said.

Ramsey said crews have already been deployed to flood-prone areas in District 3.