Houston Police Department employee confirmed dead during hurricane Beryl

• Hurricane Beryl Makes Landfall in Texas
• Seven Dead and Millions Without Power
• Houston Airports Cancel Flights

As anticipated, Hurricane Beryl made landfall near Matagorda, Texas, as a Category 1 storm at 3:55 am on Monday.

Within hours, at least seven people in Harris and Montgomery counties had lost their lives.

It is important to note that Beryl’s impact not only claimed lives but also left millions without electricity.

Authorities have urged the population to stay informed and follow safety guidelines.

Houston Police Officer Dies Due to Hurricane Beryl

This evening, @houmayor John Whitmire announced the tragic death of @houstonpolice employee Russell Richardson, 54, an Information Security Officer in the HPD Office of Technology Services. He drowned in his vehicle while driving to work.
Please keep his family and the… pic.twitter.com/BPMsqXPcaq

— City of Houston (@HoustonTX) July 8, 2024

The Mayor of Houston, John Whitmire, deeply lamented the death of a first responder during the hurricane.

It was reported that the HPD civilian employee was trying to reach his job when his car got trapped in high water.

Related: Beryl leaves 4 dead and blackouts as she passes through Texas (PHOTOS)

The incident occurred at the Houston Avenue underpass, where the man called for help from his HPD friends.

Unfortunately, when they arrived to rescue him, it was too late, and they could only recover his body from the vehicle.

KHOU 11 crews captured a water rescue along Highway 288 southbound at 610 South Loop.

Continuing coverage of Beryl: https://t.co/nXkioj1HoZ pic.twitter.com/RCEg6DJzQ4

— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) July 8, 2024

The victim was identified as Russell Richardson, 54, who drowned in his vehicle while driving to work.

In Harris County, two more people died due to falling trees.

A man in Humble and a woman in Spring were the victims of these incidents.

Additionally, a woman in southeast Houston tragically died in a fire caused by the hurricane.

Millions Without Power Due to Hurricane Beryl

The damage caused by Beryl extends beyond the loss of lives. Around 2.5 million customers in Texas were left without electricity following the storm.

Local authorities are working tirelessly to restore power in the affected areas.

Houston airports were severely impacted by the hurricane.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) had to cancel flights on Monday morning.

Airlines are attempting to resume operations, offering limited flights from Monday night, according to KHOU 11.

It is expected that flights will also operate on a restricted basis on Tuesday while teams work to normalize the situation.

Residents of Houston and surrounding areas now face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives after the devastating hurricane.

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