In a social media announcement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has urged its citizens in the United States to adhere to safety instructions issued by local authorities as Hurricane Beryl makes landfall near Houston today, July 8.
The UAE mission in Houston specifically called on citizens residing in the US to exercise caution as the hurricane, which could reach category 2 strength, approaches Houston and neighboring areas. Citizens were also advised to keep the following emergency contact numbers handy: 0097180024 and 0097180044444. The US National Hurricane Center reported that Hurricane Beryl is currently about 170 kilometers east of Corpus Christi, with maximum wind speeds reaching 120 kilometers per hour.
On Sunday, Hurricane Beryl intensified as it neared the Texas coast, resulting in the closure of major oil ports, flight cancellations, and warnings of potential deadly impacts on affected communities.
The storm’s landfall could disrupt crude oil exports, shipments to refineries, and motor fuel distribution.
Last week, Beryl, the earliest category 5 hurricane on record, wreaked havoc across Jamaica, Grenada, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines, toppling buildings, downing power lines, and causing at least 11 fatalities, according to Reuters.
After leaving a trail of destruction in the Caribbean, the storm weakened but regained strength over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, becoming a category 1 hurricane as it approached the Texas coast.
