Voluntary evacuation order issued for west side of Galveston Island ahead of Beryl

GALVESTON, Texas – A voluntary evacuation order has been issued by Galveston Emergency Management Officials for the western end of Galveston Island.

The measure applies to areas not protected by the Galveston seawall, as authorities are concerned about potential problems from Beryl’s storm surge.

“While officials believe the likelihood of tides above five feet is currently very low, tides above that level could impede travel on major roadways and make it difficult for the city to respond to emergencies,” a city news release said.

City Manager Brian Maxwell noted that the forecasts for Beryl’s path have not changed. However, during the last call with the National Weather Service, it was indicated that Beryl has increased slightly in size, which could result in slightly higher tides.

Therefore, the National Weather Service currently has a storm surge warning in effect for the western part of the island.

“Mayor Brown signed the order out of an abundance of caution,” Maxwell said.

The measure goes into effect at 10 a.m. July 7 and applies to residents and visitors west of 103rd Street, which is not protected by the Galveston Seawall.

“Emergency officials are asking residents to realize that if they decide to remain in a low-lying area, they may not be able to leave safely for several hours and emergency services may not be available while tides remain high,” the release said. “Current NWS forecasts call for tides to rise late Sunday, with peak tides occurring around sunrise Monday morning. After that time, the tides will gradually subside through the day Monday. Excessive rainfall possible with Beryl could exacerbate flooding.”

The City of Galveston says the Galveston Emergency Operations Center is monitoring Beryl closely. They will remain open 24 hours a day until Beryl is no longer a threat. The public can contact the EOC at 409-765-3710.