Credits: USA Today
The Houston City Council expressed significant concerns about the city’s hurricane preparedness and resilience during a meeting on the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. The storm’s impact, which could have been more severe, prompted a heated discussion about the city’s response and future readiness.
Tom Munoz, Director of Homeland Security and Public Safety, assured the council that pre-staging and year-round planning helped mitigate the storm’s effects. However, Council Member Tiffany Thomas criticized the response, particularly on the west side of Houston, where she felt constituents were inadequately served. “If I was not prepared with water and partnerships, we would not have had anything,” Thomas said, expressing frustration over a lack of support for residents, including seniors relying on medical equipment.
Council Member Tarsha Jackson highlighted ongoing hardships, noting that despite the storm’s passage, many residents remain without power and are struggling to recover. “We are still, to me, in the middle of a storm,” Jackson stated.
Council Member Abbie Kamin addressed concerns about the city’s flood resilience, emphasizing that Houston is ill-prepared for major storms. “The big one can come, will come. We are on borrowed time and we need these projects,” Kamin warned, criticizing the lack of sufficient investment in infrastructure and flood mitigation. She also accused CenterPoint Energy of withholding critical information, further complicating the city’s recovery efforts.
