To prepare for Tropical Storm Beryl, Texas' largest port closed operations and halted vessel transit on Sunday. The storm is expected to regain hurricane strength before striking the area on Monday morning.
The storm had previously intensified to a Category 5 hurricane, causing deadly destruction in the Caribbean. Upon landfall, it could develop into a Category 2 hurricane between Galveston and Corpus Christi on the central Texas coast.
The ports of Corpus Christi, Houston, Galveston, Freeport, and Texas City announced closures on Sunday after being set to "Zulu" status by the Coast Guard Captain. All vessel movements and cargo operations were restricted due to the prediction of strong winds within 12 hours.
Corpus Christi, located about 200 miles (322 kilometers) from Houston, is a major US crude oil export hub. Texas City and Freeport are also crucial for the transport of petroleum and refined products along the Gulf Coast.
The port closures could temporarily halt crude oil exports, oil transports to refineries, and gasoline supplies from these facilities.
The 52-mile Houston Ship Channel implemented transit restrictions on Sunday and subsequently halted all traffic. This channel leads to 8 public facilities and around 200 private docks.
The National Hurricane Center revised Beryl's projected path, expecting the storm to turn north and make landfall near Matagorda Bay. The storm may bring strong winds of up to 85 mph (136 km/h) and cause severe flooding in regions including Houston's suburbs.
