Bertha weakens to tropical depression after dumping rain along Gulf Coast

Bertha, the second named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, weakened to a tropical depression after making landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border. Initially, Bertha had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph, which decreased to 35 mph by Thursday evening. The storm brought heavy rains, with expected totals of 1 to 3 inches and isolated amounts up to 4 inches along the Texas Gulf Coast and South Texas, potentially causing flash flooding in urban areas. Although tropical storm warnings have been lifted for Texas and Louisiana, high wind gusts and elevated water levels may persist along the upper Texas coast. Bertha follows Tropical Storm Arthur, which impacted the Gulf Coast in June. As Bertha dissipates, the focus remains on managing the aftermath and ensuring safety in affected areas. QUESTION: How might communities better prepare for future storms to minimize the impact of heavy rains and potential flooding?