Weather & Science
Houston Bakes in Post-Beryl Blackout as Biden Declares Emergency
- At one West Houston station, dozens line up for gasoline
- Heat and lack of air conditioning are raising risk of illness
A flooded underpass in Houston, on July 9, 2024.
Photographer: Mark Felix/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Houston is baking under dangerous heat as more than 2 million homes and businesses in the area remain without power after Hurricane Beryl and signs of fuel shortages begin to emerge.
President Joe Biden declared a federal disaster for almost half of the counties in Texas, which will help cover some costs from the storm. The region’s heat index values — a measure of how hot it feels when humidity is factored in — are forecast to be as high as 106F (41C), the US National Weather Service said, warning of the possibility of illness under the extreme conditions. Actual temperatures will exceed 90F.