UPDATE, 7/8 5:00 PM: At least three people are reported dead Monday as a result of Beryl, which weakened to a tropical storm around midday Monday, Harris County officials say. Beryl made landfall after 4 a.m. near Matagorda, Texas.
The first two people who were reported dead lived north of Houston. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said a man died in Humble when a tree fell into his house.
About 15 miles away in Spring, Hidalgo said a 74-year-old woman died when a tree crashed into her bedroom.
"We can't tell you which way the wind is going to blow in your area. We can't know exactly what can happen, but I want you all to be aware of how dangerous these trees are right now," she said. "Take the necessary precautions as best you can."
Hidalgo compared precautions to those encouraged during a tornado. She said people should stay inside but stay in a sturdy room away from windows.
Houston and Harris County have said communities along the coast have been communicating with each other and with the State Division of Emergency Management to keep search and rescue teams staged in areas where flash flooding has been common.
A third person was reported dead Monday afternoon as a result of flooding in Houston. Houston Mayor John Whitmire says one of their own, a civilian employee of Houston PD got into flood conditions on his way into work and called for help. His body was retrieved from his submerged car.
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