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1 week ago
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HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The aftermath of last week's record rainfall in Harlingen continues to impact the community, and students across the district are no exception.
As families work to recover from flooded homes and damaged property, teenagers are juggling the emotional toll on top of their academics.
"It was really scary trying to determine if your house is going to flood, and I was pretty nervous," Marcela Guajardo, a student at Dr. Abraham P. Cano Freshman Academy said.
Guajardo's home was spared from any flood damage, but some of her classmates were not so lucky.
"I heard other people had a lot of negative affects to their houses," she said. "Getting stranded, their houses being flooded or even their cars."
When her social studies teacher Erik Longoria heard about his students' situation, he knew he had to help.
"I just wanted to have a heart-to-heart conversation with them," Longoria said. He called last week's flood a "crisis" that needed to be addressed.
STAAR testing is just around the corner, which means added stress for students and a balancing act for teachers.
"We have to sort of balance this delicate act where we keep moving forward, but at the same time, remain sensitive to the needs of our students," Longoria added.
The Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District has a team of mental health professionals that can support students during these challenging times.
The mental health team is made up of climate specialists, wellness specialists and master social workers.
"We're here to ensure every student has access to the resources they need, and that there's a safe and supportive environment for all of them," said School Climate Specialist Alfredo Aguilera.
The district is also accepting donations through its 2025 Flood Recovery Donation Drive.
They are asking for new or slightly used clothing, home essentials, hygiene products, gift cards or monetary donations.
These items are being given back to the community in need.
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