Cleanup begins after Hurricane Beryl rages through Texas
Millions of people are still without power and at least seven people have died after Hurricane Beryl made landfall along the Texas coast on Monday and moved inland, battering communities in East Texas, including Houston.
HOUSTON – Hurricane Beryl’s powerful winds ripped off part of the roof of NRG Stadium after the Category 1 storm made landfall in Texas on Monday, leaving a long swath of destruction from the Gulf Coast to beyond Houston.
On Tuesday, Beryl continued to assess the damage in East Texas. Millions of people in the Houston area are still without power and heat indices are forecast to be near 100 degrees for the rest of the workweek.
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Aerial photos and video from FOX 26 Houston show that several panels of the roof of NRG Stadium were damaged or completely torn off during the hurricane. NRG Park is operated by the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation (HCSCC) and is home to the Texans football team. NRG Stadium was one of the first NFL stadiums to have a retractable roof.
Damage to the roof of NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, after Hurricane Beryl. (FOX 26 Houston)
Ryan Walsh, CEO of HCSCC-NRG Park, confirmed in a statement that NRG Park suffered damage from the storm.
“Like many of our neighbors in the Gulf Coast region, NRG Park sustained damage from Hurricane Beryl, including to the roof of NRG Stadium. HCSCC officials are working with state, county and city officials to assist in the rebuilding efforts across the region. This joint endeavor requires all of us to work together with a strong commitment to our community. As we assist in these efforts, we are also assessing the extent of the damage to NRG Park facilities. We look forward to seeing our neighbors at NRG Park soon as we return to normal operations,” Walsh said.
According to weather stations, Houston recorded a wind gust of at least 74 mph (119 km/h), with higher gusts in the Houston area and gusts exceeding 90 mph (145 km/h) in some areas along the Gulf Coast.
On July 4, the Copa América football tournament was held in the NRG stadium.
According to the event calendar, NRG Stadium will host Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey starting July 19.