The big picture
On July 8, Hurricane Beryl brought high winds and rains to the Texas Coast causing widespread flooding, wind damage and left over 2.2 million without power across the Greater Houston area. As recovery efforts begin, both the cities of Katy and Fulshear are still evaluating hurricane damage and planning recovery efforts, city officials said.
The details
Fort Bend County Road and Bridge is planning to provide debris removal beginning the week of July 15, although dates have not yet been released.
In a July 8 Facebook post, Fort Bend County Homeland Security & Emergency Management said residents should separate debris for recycling by:
- Construction and demolition materials: building materials, carpet, drywall, furniture, glass, metal and pipes
- Electronic waste: computers, radios, stereos and televisions
- Household hazardous waste: cleaning supplies, batteries, chemicals and pesticides
- Appliances and white goods: air conditioners, heat pumps, freezers and refrigerators
- Vegetative materials: trees, limbs, brush and leaves
What else?
City of Katy officials are still working to determine and coordinate methods for debris removal across the area, according to a Facebook post. Residents are asked to bundle small limbs and place them on curbs without blocking sidewalks or drainage.
Meanwhile, Fulshear will have trash pickup July 10 for yard waste including grass clippings, leaves, tree trimmings, branches and other general debris, according to a city Facebook post. Waste will need to follow to follow requirements:
- Bags or bundles must weigh less than 40 pounds.
- Brush, limbs and clean fence boards must be bundled in lengths of no more than 4 feet.
- Large timbers or fence pickets must not include nails.
- Residents are asked not to use the provided recycling carts.
What they’re saying
At a July 9 City Council meeting, Katy Mayor Dusty Thiele highlighted the teamwork of the city’s police, fire and public work departments through the hurricane and the beginning of its recovery.
“There are going to be long days ahead of us,” he said. “This was a quick coordination of everybody ... to put this together.”
Additionally, Fulshear Mayor Don McCoy also signed a disaster declaration July 8, although the city fared much better than neighboring entities, Communications Coordinator Mariah Gallegos said in an email.
“The local disaster declaration means essential resources can be made available to those in need from the state,” she said. “It essentially allows for our local government to tap into state resources to help with any impacts from Beryl.”
Looking ahead
Fort Bend County commissioners are set to hold a special meeting July 10 at 2 p.m. at 401 Jackson St., Richmond, to discuss county responses to Hurricane Beryl.
The meeting can be livestreamed here.
