One county in Texas has issued a voluntary evacuation notice for some residents, as Hurricane Beryl hurtles towards the state.
The Category 4 storm that has killed at least seven people in the Caribbean, according to the Associated Press’ latest death toll, is forecast to hit Texas by this weekend.
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On Wednesday, Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. released a voluntary evacuation notice for people in RVs.
He specifically mentioned guests staying at county parks, including Isla Blanca Park, Andy Bowie Park and Adolph Thomae Jr. Park, in Arroyo City.
The notice says: “As a precautionary measure, we are asking all campers to secure loose items around your campsites (e.g. chairs, umbrellas, tables, carpets, shade canopies, etc.) that could easily be tossed by high winds and cause damage to neighboring property.
“You may also want to retract awnings and re-check tie-downs to make sure campers are properly secured. Due to the possibility of power outages, campers are encouraged to have a backup generator on hand.
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“Additionally, it’s advised to conserve perishable food as much as possible. Campers should stay tuned to their local weather station for the latest updates on the storm and having a plan of action in case the storm track changes or intensifies is also recommended.”
This image provided by NASA shows Hurricane Beryl from the International Space Station on Sunday, July 1. The U.S. National Hurricane Center predicts Hurricane Beryl will hit Texas by Sunday.
AP
It goes on to stress that the county “is not requiring guests to evacuate, but want to make sure all precautionary measures are taken in case the storm’s current track remains accurate.”
Beryl, the first hurricane of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season, has ravaged the Caribbean over the past few days, with roofs ripped off in Jamaica and fishing boats wrecked in Barbados.
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Some 95 per cent of homes in the two islands in St. Vincent and the Grenadines were destroyed, AP reports.
Grenada’s prime minister, Dickon Mitchell, said on Wednesday: “We have to rebuild from the ground up… There is literally no vegetation left anywhere on the island of Carriacou, the mangroves are totally destroyed.”
The most recent forecast from the U.S. National Hurricane Center predicts that Beryl’s “tropical-storm-force winds” will reach southern Texas at around 8 a.m. on Sunday. Multiple parts of Mexico will likely be hit first, along with Cuba and Belize.
In its latest update, the National Hurricane Center said: “There remains uncertainty in the track an intensity forecast of Beryl over the western Gulf of Mexico this weekend.
“Interests in eastern Mexico and southern Texas should monitor the progress of Beryl. Regardless of the exact track, rip currents could cause life-threatening beach conditions beginning late Friday and continuing through the weekend across much of the Gulf Coast.”
Update 4/7/2024 7:55 a.m. ET: The headline has changed and addition information added.
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