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By Gabe Whisnant
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Heavy rainfall finally eased along the Texas-Mexico border on Friday, but emergency crews continued rescue operations after severe storms the day before left widespread flooding, stranded residents, and submerged vehicles.
At least three people have died, though Hidalgo County officials said details about the fatalities remain limited, noting only that they occurred during law enforcement response efforts. Authorities rescued over 200 residents, with another 200 still awaiting help.
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Context
In Harlingen, city officials reported more than 21 inches of rain over the past week, with Thursday's downpour causing particularly severe flooding.
What to Know
In the city of Alamo, emergency responders handled more than 100 water rescues, including people trapped in homes and stranded in vehicles, according to fire chief R.C. Flores. The flooding also forced road closures and disrupted air travel, shutting down a local airport during the height of the storm.
Officials estimate that several hundred homes in Alamo were inundated by heavy rainfall as widespread flooding continued to impact cities across the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. Alamo Fire Chief R.C. Flores said multiple communities were hit hard by Thursday's severe storms, but all are actively working to support residents in need.
In Weslaco, Mayor Adrian Gonzalez reported around 14 inches of rain, resulting in 30 to 40 water rescues of motorists and residents trapped by rapidly rising floodwaters.
Across South Texas, news footage showed abandoned vehicles on submerged roads and stranded drivers waiting for waters to recede. The National Weather Service said 6 to 12 inches of rain had fallen in many areas within 24 hours.
In neighboring Cameron County, officials requested a disaster declaration from Gov. Greg Abbott after more than 17 inches of rain caused significant flooding.
Valley International Airport in Harlingen remained closed Friday, with all flights canceled due to flooding. Airport officials said they were working to reopen and "focused on ensuring safety."
Power outages affected more than 3,400 customers across multiple counties, according to AEP Texas. A flood warning remained in effect for parts of Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy counties through early Friday afternoon.
The National Weather Service cautioned that while morning brought a break from the rain, any additional showers could quickly cause new flooding. "Given the saturated ground, any rainfall today will bring renewed flood concerns," the agency said.
What People Are Saying
Weslaco Mayor Adrian Gonzalez said: "It's a historic rainstorm and it's affecting all the Valley, not just Weslaco," Gonzalez said. "It's just so much water in a short period of time."
Harligen Mayor Norma Sepulveda said during a Friday news conference: "This of course has been a historic and challenging event for the city. But Harlingen is strong. We have faced adversity before and we will get through this together."
Alamo Fire Chief R.C. Flores said: "I assure the public that we are assessing the situation on the hour, every hour. Just because the storm is over doesn't mean the emergencies and the disaster are over. We're going to continue to work as long as we need to."
Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. said: "The rainfall amounts we received have been record-setting—and not in a good way," noting that all available county resources were being deployed for response efforts.
What Happens Next
Emergency shelters were opened in Harlingen, Weslaco, and Alamo, including a middle school that will remain available to displaced residents through Friday. More than 20 school districts and college campuses across South Texas canceled classes due to the ongoing severe weather.
This is a developing news story and will be updated as more information is available.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.
Update: 7:17 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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