Rising to the occasion: Valley cities working to lift each other out of floodwaters

1 week ago 27

By Alexandrea Bailey and Michael Rodriguez | Staff Writers

McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos said Monday he is proud of how the community has stepped up to help one another following the recent flooding.

In addition, he feels relief knowing that the city of McAllen can handle this sort of natural disaster with resilience. He says that the city’s drainage systems operated accordingly, and added that a “minimal” amount of floodwaters entered residences.

According to Villalobos, District 6 suffered the most damage due to its southern location.

Public Works immediately rose to action following the storm, removing debris and clearing roadways.

District 4 Commissioner Rodolfo “Rudy” Castillo took to the streets to pull cars, and people, trapped by floodwaters. The Salvation Army provided shelter to displaced persons. Sunday, city officials coordinated with the Red Cross to provide 500 meals to those in need at the Las Palmas Community Center.

Now that things are settling in McAllen, Villabos says the city is directing its efforts toward Harlingen, which saw 21.5 inches of rainfall, whereas McAllen saw 12.

McAllen has sent three Vactor trucks, primarily used to pump sewers, and accompanying teams to help remove some of the remaining water from heavily affected areas in Harlingen.

In these few days following the storm, Villalobos has witnessed the people of McAllen come together, which he said has given him “a warm fuzzy feeling.”

Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez has been touring the area, identifying heavily affected regions. Following the filing of the emergency declaration, the Texas Department of Emergency Management has begun conducting surveys to pinpoint residents who qualify for assistance.

Non-governmental organizations are also conducting surveys to see where their help is most needed.

Cortez said the Hidalgo County Community Service Agency will pass out gift cards on Wednesday ranging from $300 to $500 to 150 families in need this Wednesday in South Pharr and Mercedes, as they were both recognized as “heavily affected.”

Next Monday and Tuesday, April 7 and 8, another 150 families will receive the same assistance in Sullivan City, Elsa, Edcouch and La Villa.

Sister Norma Pimentel of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley credited Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda, Kayla Gonzalez with American Red Cross and Hilton Garden Inn Harlingen Convention Center Dual Manager Javier Segura for working to provide shelter for people who have been displaced by the storm.

Catholic Charities also partnered with World Center Kitchen to provide meals.

“In just hours most cities in the RGV were flooded! Many homes are still under water. Thankfully a response to help them and provide shelter was immediate in (Upper Cameron County),” Pimentel said via Facebook.

Pimentel said Catholic Charities also opened the doors to the Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen “to provide a safe place, food (and) clothing to families with homes under water.”

Residents can drop off donations at the center, located at 111 S. 15th St. in McAllen.

Rio Hondo Municipal Judge Jessica Alvarado Gonzales put it this way: “We have to help our neighbors however we can.”

Gonzales was among dozens of residents in the area who volunteered with city officials and the business community to distribute food to people stranded in their homes. Unfortunately, there are still plenty who need that help.

Rio Hondo Mayor Gustavo “Gus” Olivares, City Administrator Ben Medina and Assistant Administrator Ana Hernandez answered that call by delivering large pizzas from Little Caesars, cases of water and chips to as many homes as possible.

They were initially planning to distribute sandwiches but Gonzales suggested pizza to rush the food out to people in need, and because it can feed a whole family.

More help came from everywhere.

“The Walmart manager donated chips from his own pocket,” Gonzales said of the San Benito store location’s manager, Victor Bravo. “He took out his own personal credit card and paid for it.”

In total, they were able to deliver pizzas to 100 homes in Rio Hondo.

Also on Saturday, Gonzales was part of a chicken plate sale that San Benito City Commissioner Joe E. Navarro launched.

Together with Navarro, Mayor Rick Guerra and City Manager Fred Sandoval, as well as Gigi’s Wing Shack in San Benito, Gonzales was again one of dozens who volunteered her time to help distribute 1,000 chicken plates with chicken, rice, beans, jalapeno, bread and drinks to local residents.

She said Mayor Guerra was one of several people who boarded a boat to reach the residents of Green Valley Farms, a colonia located just outside the city limits that’s historically prone to flooding.

“They were all out there for a little while, and the mayor went to distribute plates at Green Valley Farms. He got on a boat and went out there, and EDC employees and the city manager were all out there cooking and serving (at Gigi’s),” Gonzales said.

Others who assisted were members of a local citizen group, I Heart San Benito, and the San Benito Chamber of Commerce.

“A lot of people were very thankful,” she added. “I was a flood victim myself back in the 1990s when we had that flood. It was bad and we lost a lot of things. I remember FEMA coming in and helping us out. The materials didn’t matter, but it was more like our pictures and things that meant something to us.”

In Green Valley alone, Gonzales said there are about 200 people still stranded in their homes.