Typical, nobody cares about Matagorda until a national disaster hits and we want to exploit these forgotten communities for headline news.

Big Storm, Big Problems: Beryl Hits Texas

Austin, y'all are in harm's way. Hurricane Beryl made multiple landfalls, and now it's targeting you. This storm is a powerful reminder of the climate crisis. Are we ready?

According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Beryl made history with three landfalls since its birth as a named storm.

"Do not ignore this storm." - Acting Gov. Dan Patrick, Texas.

Patrick isn't kidding. With winds near 80 mph, Beryl is no joke. This monster made landfall near Matagorda, a mere 200 miles from Austin. And get this, it previously partied in Grenada and Mexico, causing havoc ahead of the Fourth of July.

A Timeline of Beryl's Fury:

• June 28: The National Hurricane Center starts freaking out about "Invest 95L." By 11 p.m., it's christened Tropical Storm Beryl.
• June 29: Beryl flexes its muscles and becomes a full-blown hurricane.
• July 1: Beryl goes rogue, reaches Category 4, and smashes into Carriacou Island, Grenada, with 150 mph winds.
• July 2: Beryl upgrades to a Category 5 beast, boasting 165 mph winds.
• July 5: It downgrades to a tropical storm but still slams into Mexico near Tulum as a Category 2.
• July 6: Beryl's headed for round three, threatening northeastern Mexico and southern Texas. Patrick issues a warning, adding Travis County to the Hurricane Beryl Disaster Declaration.
• July 7: Beryl, the Drama Queen, teases an upgrade to a hurricane as it approaches the Texas coast.
• July 8: Boom! Category 1 hurricane status, making landfall near Matagorda.

The Bottom Line:

Beryl is a deadly reminder that the climate crisis knocks on everyone's door. Texas, stay safe. The rest of us, let's get our act together and fight for Mother Earth.

Rin Velasco, Trending Reporter [rvelasco@gannett.com] ()