Home / Disasters and Accidents / Zoo Animals Safe as Hurricane Beryl Tears Through Texas
Zoo Animals Safe as Hurricane Beryl Tears Through Texas
30 Sep
Summary
- Zoo enclosures remained secure despite widespread hurricane damage.
- A ride-out team stayed overnight to ensure animal safety and systems.
- Generators and backup systems maintained critical operations during outages.
Hurricane Beryl struck Texas in July 2024, causing significant damage and widespread power outages across the Houston area. Despite the storm's intensity, the Houston Zoo maintained that all animal enclosures remained secure and that animals continued to receive care.
A dedicated ride-out team stayed on zoo grounds overnight during the hurricane. This team comprised staff from animal care, veterinary services, and facilities, tasked with monitoring animals, checking enclosures, and responding to any storm-related issues.
As the storm approached, animals were moved to protected spaces like barns and night houses. Essential operations were supported by generators, ensuring continuous power for climate control, feeding, and medical care systems.
Following the storm's passage, zoo staff focused on cleanup and damage assessment. While some buildings and infrastructure sustained damage, no animal enclosures were breached, allowing keepers to continue their routines in secure areas.
The Houston Zoo remained closed for initial cleanup efforts. Staff worked to remove fallen debris and address areas affected by flooding before reopening to the public.
