Texas counties issue mandatory, voluntary evacuations as Beryl targets coast

As Beryl is expected to land on the Texas coast early Monday, several counties have begun issuing mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders.

Beryl previously made landfall Friday in the Yucatan Peninsula as a Category 2 hurricane before weakening to a tropical storm as it moved across the peninsula.

As of 11 p.m. Sunday, the National Hurricane Center announced that Beryl had been upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour.

Several Texas counties have already issued voluntary and mandatory evacuation orders in low-lying areas.

On Saturday, Refugio County issued a mandatory evacuation for all residents. Judge Jhiela “Gigi” Poynter said buses would take anyone unable to evacuate outside town.

Also on Saturday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick added 81 Texas counties to the state’s Beryl Disaster Declaration since landfall has shifted north and east of previous forecasts. This brought the total number of Texas counties in the state’s disaster declaration to 121.

Patrick, who is the acting governor as Gov. Greg Abbott is out of the country on a pre-planned business trip, is asking Texans to be prepared. Watch his Sunday briefing in the video player above.

The declaration enables state resources to assist in local preparation and recovery efforts.

List of Texas counties that have issued mandatory and voluntary evacuations

• Aransas County — As of 10 a.m. on July 7, Aransas County officials have ordered a voluntary evacuation order for all visitors, special needs residents and residents in the low-lying and flood-prone areas of the county. There are no emergency shelter facilities in Aransas County. Sheltering in place is not advised for residents in low-lying or flood-prone areas.
• Brazoria County — As of 1 p.m. on July 6, Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta issued a voluntary evacuation order for low-lying areas, including Bryan Beach, the Village of Quintana, the Village of Surfside Beach, Follett’s Island, and Treasure Island. The town of Quintana has issued a mandatory evacuation.
• Calhoun County — As of 6 p.m. July 6, Calhoun County issued a voluntary evacuation for all residents and visitors.
• Cameron County — On July 3, Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino, Jr. issued a voluntary evacuation order for recreational vehicles (RVs) and other high-profile vehicles staying at County Parks (Isla Blanca Park, Andy Bowie Park and Adolph Thomae, Jr. Park in Arroyo City). Cameron County beach access areas are closed.
• Jackson County — As of July 6, Jackson County Emergency Management officials said the county is under a voluntary evacuation of low-lying and coastal flood-prone areas.
• Kenedy County — As of noon on July 5, Kenedy County Judge Charles Burns has issued a voluntary evacuation order. Burns said the JP Building/Hurricane Shelter will be open at noon Sunday.
• Kleberg County — As of July 4, Kleberg County Judge Rudy Madrid issued a voluntary evacuation order for Loyola Beach, Baffin Bay, and all low-lying areas in the county.
• Matagorda County — As of 6:45 p.m. on July 6, the Matagorda County Emergency Operation Center issued a voluntary evacuation for the coastal areas of the county, which includes Sargent, Matagorda and along the coast of the city of Palacios. As of 6 p.m. on July 7, a curfew has been declared for the City of Bay City beginning at 11 p.m. Sunday. Bay City officials said those exempt from the curfew are police officers, firefighters, doctors, nurses and other people considered essential to preserving public order and necessary to serve the safety, health and welfare needs of Bay City residents. The City of Palacios is similarly instituting a curfew that will begin at 9 p.m. Sunday and last until sunrise on Monday.
• Nueces County — As of 2 p.m. on July 6, Nueces County Judge Connie Scott said that visitors to the county are under a mandatory evacuation order. Scott said county visitors will need to leave by noon on Sunday, July 7. Citizens and property owners in the county are currently under a voluntary evacuation order.
  • Port Aransas, located in Nueces County, has issued a mandatory evacuation for all visitors. Ferry operations will be suspended at noon on Sunday, July 7.
• Refugio County – As of 12:46 p.m. on July 6, Refugio County Judge Jhiela “Gigi” Poynter issued a mandatory evacuation for all residents.
• San Patricio County — As of noon on July 6, San Patricio County Judge David R. Krebs recommended a voluntary evacuation of “low-lying areas, high-profile vehicles and RVs” in the following eastern portions of the county: Aransas Pass, Gregory, Ingleside, Ingleside on the Bay and Portland. All vehicle travel will be limited between midnight Monday and 6 p.m.

‘Be prepared’

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd are asking Texans and visitors along the coast to use Sunday to prepare for possible flooding.

Patrick said it appears Beryl will move quickly through the coastal areas, but people inland in areas like College Station and Texarkana should also prepare in case the storm heads their way.

“It will be a heavy rain event but will move quickly,” he said.

Patrick and Kidd offered the following tips:

1. Use Sunday to evacuate if needed. “This is the day to move,” Patrick said.
2. If you are staying in place, use Sunday to make sure you are prepared for flooding and/or power outages. Anticipate power outages for those who are power-dependent, like people who use ventilators. “It’s not too late to get them to a safe place,” Kidd said.
3. If you have to venture out during a heavy rain event, do not drive through flooded roads.

They also suggested calling and texting any family and friends who are vacationing on the coast, as they may not be aware of weather threats.

For road conditions and weather resources, click here.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

KSAT is your Weather Authority. Our team of meteorologists is tracking the latest with Tropical Storm Beryl. Meteorologist Justin Horne will have reports on the ground along the Texas Gulf Coast Monday on GMSA.

For the latest on Beryl’s forecast, click here.

RELATED ON KSAT.COM