Largest Texas ports close due to Hurricane Beryl

The largest ports in Texas closed operations and vessel traffic on Sunday as Hurricane Beryl intensified.

Some of the biggest ports said they closed port operations whilst others announced that all vessel movement and cargo operations are restricted.

Galveston Harbor and port operations remained closed on Monday due to Beryl.

“Flooding due to storm surge and rain hinder access and obstruct roadways in and around the port complex. Power remains out. When conditions allow, assessments will be made to reopen the port,” said the port.

On Sunday, the port advised port tenants and employees to cease operations and vacate the premises in anticipation of flooding and high winds through Monday.

The port of Houston said on Monday it shut its terminal operations and will send an update for Wednesday operations. “Due to the expected weather, all Port Houston facilities will be closed on Monday, July 8.”

“All port Houston terminals will remain closed on Tuesday July 9. We will continue to assess and repair damage this afternoon and tomorrow and will send an update for Wednesday operations,” reads the port Houston statement.

The port of Corpus Christi continues to monitor possible impact scenarios for Hurricane Beryl in and around the Coastal Bend region.

On Saturday it announced that “all vessel movement and cargo operations are restricted.”

Port personnel of Corpus Christi are continuing to assess impacts; however no significant impacts have been reported.

Port facilities, including the emergency operations center, security command center and harbormaster’s office have maintained continuous uninterrupted operations.

The port of Corpus Christi announced that port offices will open as scheduled on July 9 for normal operations.

The US Coast Guard urges the public to follow directions from state and local emergency managers.

In response to the impacts of Hurricane Beryl across Eastern Texas, the coast guard is delivering the life-saving support required in hurricane-stricken areas, and has already begun assessing impacts to the marine transportation system to support the reopening of ports and waterways.

Beryl brought significant flooding to areas in and around Houston. “If you must travel remember to avoid flooded roadways even if signs aren’t present – turn around don’t drown,” the NOAA’s National Weather Service warned.

The NOAA in its advisory said Beryl is expected to move steadily northeastward from eastern Texas Monday afternoon, across Arkansas on Tuesday, into the Lower Ohio Valley Tuesday night and into the Lower Great Lakes on Wednesday.

While the wind speeds associated with Beryl will continue to weaken as it moves farther from the Gulf of Mexico, the storm will continue to be a prolific heavy rain producer as it pushes northeastward.

“Widespread heavy rains are likely along and to the northeast of the path of Beryl over the next two days with rainfall totals of 2-5″ from far northeast Texas, across large section of Arkansas, southeast Missouri, central to southern Illinois, Indiana, far northwest Ohio into the southern portions of the L.P. of Michigan,” the NOAA’s National Weather Service said in its forecast.