For videos of Hurrican Dolly--before, during, and after: check out these:
KVEO-23 (Brownsville, TX): http://www.kveo.com/home/ondemand/video
KRGV-5 (Weslaco, TX): http://www.krgv.com/News
KGBT-4 (Harlingen, TX):--photo page (video page hard to find): http://www.kgbt4.com/news/photos.aspx
Showing posts with label Dolly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dolly. Show all posts
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Dolly Photos/Major Local News Print One Edition
Thanks for your warm wishes for the Valley to all who've commented or e-mailed. Several have also sent photos of your own hurricane drama.
I encourage y'all to upload them to http://www.freedomgalleries.com/vmstar/main.php?g2_itemId=16509 (there's a link on left for uploading photos.)
This link is also good for anyone interested in seeing images of the storm--before, during and after--by professional photographers at Valley Morning Star Newspaper as well as anyone who uploaded them.
Today's (Friday, July 25, 2008) edition of the Rio Grande Valley's Freedom Newspapers was just that--one edition . . . for all papers: The Monitor, The Brownsville Herald, Valley Morning Star, as well as the Spanish-language La Frontera and El Nuevo Heraldo . . . all rolled into one edition due to printing and electric outage problems. Freedom News Service also owns the Mid-Valley Town Crier as well as the island-based South Padre Island Breeze and the Coastal Current Weekly. No word on those.
I know distribution's off because we've been getting somebody's The Monitor, but no one's asked for it; no clue who's missing it.
It's a different kind of TGIF for folks. The weekend will not be restful for many and shelters are still quite busy in many places. Even as power is restored, flooding remains an issue for many in Mercedes, Weslaco, Harlingen, Rio Hondo, Brownsville, San Benito, and La Blanca; likely also in Santa Rosa area, etc.
New rain totals show up to 20 inches in some of the hardest hit areas just mentioned.
I encourage y'all to upload them to http://www.freedomgalleries.com/vmstar/main.php?g2_itemId=16509 (there's a link on left for uploading photos.)
This link is also good for anyone interested in seeing images of the storm--before, during and after--by professional photographers at Valley Morning Star Newspaper as well as anyone who uploaded them.
Today's (Friday, July 25, 2008) edition of the Rio Grande Valley's Freedom Newspapers was just that--one edition . . . for all papers: The Monitor, The Brownsville Herald, Valley Morning Star, as well as the Spanish-language La Frontera and El Nuevo Heraldo . . . all rolled into one edition due to printing and electric outage problems. Freedom News Service also owns the Mid-Valley Town Crier as well as the island-based South Padre Island Breeze and the Coastal Current Weekly. No word on those.
I know distribution's off because we've been getting somebody's The Monitor, but no one's asked for it; no clue who's missing it.
It's a different kind of TGIF for folks. The weekend will not be restful for many and shelters are still quite busy in many places. Even as power is restored, flooding remains an issue for many in Mercedes, Weslaco, Harlingen, Rio Hondo, Brownsville, San Benito, and La Blanca; likely also in Santa Rosa area, etc.
New rain totals show up to 20 inches in some of the hardest hit areas just mentioned.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
DOLL-E Has Left The Building . . . Mostly
Wow, what a night last night. We lost power in my neighborhood in McAllen at around 4 p.m. and did not get it back until 5:50 p.m. today--Thurs., July 24--which exlpains, I hope, the lack of updates in the interim.
Dolly's remnants are still out there heading west, but she's not making a graceful exit as she storms into the sunset.
Initial reports are that there's been an estimated $750 million in damages; about 250,000 (at least 240,000) people were left without electricity.
As of 10 p.m. local t.v. news channels were reporting 30,000 people in Harlingen without power. Last night KURV reported 36,000 people without electricity in Haringen, so there seems to have been little progress made in 24 hours in that city.
My own neighborhood fared quite well: some downed wooden fences, some shingles, some roof leakage across the street; just about everyone across the Valley--certainly from first-hand accounts I can tell you every neighborhood in McAllen and Mission--lost some branches, limbs or whole trees--uprooted, not just broken off.
But there is a tremendous amount of flooding in places in Brownsville, Harlingen, Rio Hondo, San Benito and even in Weslaco, Mercedes and La Blanca--which is due east of Edinburg on State Hwy. 107.
National news--FOX, CNN, etc., are too soon, in my opinion, jumping the gun and declaring that the levees held. The verdict is not in, though. We won't know until water from the watershed starts drifting into the Rio Grande from all its tributaries north and south of the river whether the levees will hold. Two weeks ago, the Rio Grande Valley received a five-day non-stop drenching, so the reservoirs were full.
In Mercedes, the floodway is already filled; that is, overflow from the Rio Grande is already to capacity; drainage ditches in places like Santa Rosa, Weslaco, La Blanca, etc., are overflowing. Some are so filled to capacity that there are "lakes" connecting irrigation canals--with water from the Rio Grande--to drainage ditches--which look like canals, but are made to carry water, often effluent (treated wastewater) toward the Arroyo Colorado, which eventually flows into the Laguna Madre/the bay (west of South Padre Island.
Well, in Harlingen, where the Arroyo finally gets deep and wide (due to the barges going to and from the Port of Harlingen) the Arroyo was near to overflowing. There's no doubt in my mind that it'll spill over its banks once more water is released. In McAllen they're asking us not to shower or flush toilets because they're trying to keep us from contributing to drainage problems downriver (well, down-Arroyo).
Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. John Cornyn took a plane ride with Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos to assess damage; Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas also took a chopper ride and the county released photos of the flooded areas. Scary stuff. In some cases, there was water up to the waist. The worst shown on TV was four-feet of water in neighborhoods, with two feet of water inside people's homes.
Rescues by the National Guard and local sherrif's offices were conductedy by deuce-and-a-half trucks; later, even those could not navigate roads, and yielded to flat-bottom boats/pontoons.
Into Thursday evening several businesses and sections lost power in McAllen, despite crews working overtime; KURV 710 AM radio reported that work crews came in from other states and upstate to help electric coops and AEP Texas repair damaged power lines, etc. Nevertheless, several businesses, again, remained closed, or opened then had to shut down due to power failures. North of Robin, there was no light, so several restaurants closed down after having opened.
H-E-B and other grocers reported having to throw out fresh produce and meat; some H-E-B stores in McAllen did not open until 6 p.m. So in that sense, financial damage (and damage to fresh foods) will likely add to the blow to the economy, strong as it is locally. That having been said, shopping was furious before the storm at grocers and home improvement places and hardwares stores before the hurricane hit and shoppers will likely flock to grocers to replace frozen foods and refrigerated stuff gone bad.
Even fancy, semi-high end or high-end resorts and hotels at South Padre Island and Port Isabel took some bad hits, including the Raddison Hotel. KRGV-TV showed major damage to vehicles still parked there at 6 p.m.--dented, windows broken, some half-crushed by debris; the buildings suffered gaping holes, broken rooftops to smaller establishments or resort entrances, downed hotel signs, etc. Damage at S.P.I. is major.
Calls throughout the day--yesterday and today--have been difficult due to downed power lines and perhaps--this is strictly speculation on my part--damage to the cell phone infrastructures/cell towers, etc. Lost signals and lost calls were the order of the day yesterday and today. Phone calls to friends at Valley Morning Star Newspaper in Harlingen were not getting through as I tried to reach former colleagues there.
Dolly was not the most powerful storm ever, but she lingered and lingered, pummeling the same spots incessantly.
We had 40 PMH winds and light rain starting at 2:08 p.m. in McAllen; then higher winds and heavy rain 70 MPH winds from about 4 p.m. At about 8 p.m. it started getting scary. The heavy stuff lasted until 4 a.m. almost not-stop, diminishing by 5:30 a.m. Wind speeds jumped from 22 MPH to 33 to 40 within minutes of my previous post and then hovered at 50--70 MPH. I've never been in a tornado, but it sure sounded frightening too many times last night.
At 11:30 p.m. the meteorologist at KURV radio said the eye was just getting over McAllen--meanwhile we'd been getting pummeled all that time, thinking the eye was already upon us. The eye went NW over Red Gate (north of Edinburg on U.S. 281) on the northern end at around that time. We slept with a few windows cracked open to allow for ventilation, as despite the wind and rain, the heat--coupled, of course by the humidity--was quite thick. The rain and wind essentially power-washed everyone's roofs around here--and then some; from my vantage point the wind came from the West or NorthWest the entire night.
Whatever frozen meat had thawed out I barbecued for lunch today; the rest of the stuff in the fridge we put on ice and later took it to a relative's house, where they had power. The morning started with drizzle and soft rain in McAllen while the eye was winking at Rio Grande City and Roma from about 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. or so, according to a friend who works at Customs at the international bridge in Rio Grande City and news reports, mainly from KURV radio. I barbecued in the near 96 degree weather (though it was slightly cooler yet) after the rain subsided.
Again, Dolly essentiall hugged the Rio Grande, moving parallel to its banks, albeit north of the river, up towards Laredo and Eagle Pass and beyond, so the likelihood of more flooding and levee breaks is yet a probability, not just a possibility.
The national news media, almost as if waving goodbye to the "bigger" story of a levee break, has opined that all is well with the levees--without even so much as an interview with anyone to substantiate their theory. I am by no means hoping for a flood or a break in the levee system, but realistically, judging from Dolly's path and lasting rainfall--with outer bands affecting Austin, San Antonio, Houston and Louisianna, it would be premature to say the Valley's levees will hold.
The average amount of rainfall from Dolly for the four-county region is 7", according to KRGV-TV. Most parts of the Valley got 8.5"; several areas got 12" to 15".
The Texas National Guard started distributing food, ice, and water today. The Salvation Army is expted on S.P.I. and perhaps other areas on Friday.
I know this is much to take in, but I know that there are several of you from out of town and wish to stay abreast of what's up. So I hope this helps.
Overall, we're okay; no reports of death yet; severed fingers, broken arms (and egos)--some dude fell of a balcony in S.P.I.--but otherwise, we're okay. Now tell that to the folks with "water" beds in their colonias. So flooding--diesel, and pesticides, and cemeteries, and toxic chemicals, and wastewater--is still an issue for many folks. Not so in Mission and McAllen, but in other parts it's scary.
So by no means is this hurricane's damage completely known or completely gone. Dolly came to dance with a full dance card, then went ahead and danced some more. And she was a horrible dancer who stepped on lots of toes.
Thanks to all for your warm and well wishes and prayers. Let's keep the folks in the flooded and no-power areas in our prayers still. Thanks.
Dolly's remnants are still out there heading west, but she's not making a graceful exit as she storms into the sunset.
Initial reports are that there's been an estimated $750 million in damages; about 250,000 (at least 240,000) people were left without electricity.
As of 10 p.m. local t.v. news channels were reporting 30,000 people in Harlingen without power. Last night KURV reported 36,000 people without electricity in Haringen, so there seems to have been little progress made in 24 hours in that city.
My own neighborhood fared quite well: some downed wooden fences, some shingles, some roof leakage across the street; just about everyone across the Valley--certainly from first-hand accounts I can tell you every neighborhood in McAllen and Mission--lost some branches, limbs or whole trees--uprooted, not just broken off.
But there is a tremendous amount of flooding in places in Brownsville, Harlingen, Rio Hondo, San Benito and even in Weslaco, Mercedes and La Blanca--which is due east of Edinburg on State Hwy. 107.
National news--FOX, CNN, etc., are too soon, in my opinion, jumping the gun and declaring that the levees held. The verdict is not in, though. We won't know until water from the watershed starts drifting into the Rio Grande from all its tributaries north and south of the river whether the levees will hold. Two weeks ago, the Rio Grande Valley received a five-day non-stop drenching, so the reservoirs were full.
In Mercedes, the floodway is already filled; that is, overflow from the Rio Grande is already to capacity; drainage ditches in places like Santa Rosa, Weslaco, La Blanca, etc., are overflowing. Some are so filled to capacity that there are "lakes" connecting irrigation canals--with water from the Rio Grande--to drainage ditches--which look like canals, but are made to carry water, often effluent (treated wastewater) toward the Arroyo Colorado, which eventually flows into the Laguna Madre/the bay (west of South Padre Island.
Well, in Harlingen, where the Arroyo finally gets deep and wide (due to the barges going to and from the Port of Harlingen) the Arroyo was near to overflowing. There's no doubt in my mind that it'll spill over its banks once more water is released. In McAllen they're asking us not to shower or flush toilets because they're trying to keep us from contributing to drainage problems downriver (well, down-Arroyo).
Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. John Cornyn took a plane ride with Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos to assess damage; Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas also took a chopper ride and the county released photos of the flooded areas. Scary stuff. In some cases, there was water up to the waist. The worst shown on TV was four-feet of water in neighborhoods, with two feet of water inside people's homes.
Rescues by the National Guard and local sherrif's offices were conductedy by deuce-and-a-half trucks; later, even those could not navigate roads, and yielded to flat-bottom boats/pontoons.
Into Thursday evening several businesses and sections lost power in McAllen, despite crews working overtime; KURV 710 AM radio reported that work crews came in from other states and upstate to help electric coops and AEP Texas repair damaged power lines, etc. Nevertheless, several businesses, again, remained closed, or opened then had to shut down due to power failures. North of Robin, there was no light, so several restaurants closed down after having opened.
H-E-B and other grocers reported having to throw out fresh produce and meat; some H-E-B stores in McAllen did not open until 6 p.m. So in that sense, financial damage (and damage to fresh foods) will likely add to the blow to the economy, strong as it is locally. That having been said, shopping was furious before the storm at grocers and home improvement places and hardwares stores before the hurricane hit and shoppers will likely flock to grocers to replace frozen foods and refrigerated stuff gone bad.
Even fancy, semi-high end or high-end resorts and hotels at South Padre Island and Port Isabel took some bad hits, including the Raddison Hotel. KRGV-TV showed major damage to vehicles still parked there at 6 p.m.--dented, windows broken, some half-crushed by debris; the buildings suffered gaping holes, broken rooftops to smaller establishments or resort entrances, downed hotel signs, etc. Damage at S.P.I. is major.
Calls throughout the day--yesterday and today--have been difficult due to downed power lines and perhaps--this is strictly speculation on my part--damage to the cell phone infrastructures/cell towers, etc. Lost signals and lost calls were the order of the day yesterday and today. Phone calls to friends at Valley Morning Star Newspaper in Harlingen were not getting through as I tried to reach former colleagues there.
Dolly was not the most powerful storm ever, but she lingered and lingered, pummeling the same spots incessantly.
We had 40 PMH winds and light rain starting at 2:08 p.m. in McAllen; then higher winds and heavy rain 70 MPH winds from about 4 p.m. At about 8 p.m. it started getting scary. The heavy stuff lasted until 4 a.m. almost not-stop, diminishing by 5:30 a.m. Wind speeds jumped from 22 MPH to 33 to 40 within minutes of my previous post and then hovered at 50--70 MPH. I've never been in a tornado, but it sure sounded frightening too many times last night.
At 11:30 p.m. the meteorologist at KURV radio said the eye was just getting over McAllen--meanwhile we'd been getting pummeled all that time, thinking the eye was already upon us. The eye went NW over Red Gate (north of Edinburg on U.S. 281) on the northern end at around that time. We slept with a few windows cracked open to allow for ventilation, as despite the wind and rain, the heat--coupled, of course by the humidity--was quite thick. The rain and wind essentially power-washed everyone's roofs around here--and then some; from my vantage point the wind came from the West or NorthWest the entire night.
Whatever frozen meat had thawed out I barbecued for lunch today; the rest of the stuff in the fridge we put on ice and later took it to a relative's house, where they had power. The morning started with drizzle and soft rain in McAllen while the eye was winking at Rio Grande City and Roma from about 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. or so, according to a friend who works at Customs at the international bridge in Rio Grande City and news reports, mainly from KURV radio. I barbecued in the near 96 degree weather (though it was slightly cooler yet) after the rain subsided.
Again, Dolly essentiall hugged the Rio Grande, moving parallel to its banks, albeit north of the river, up towards Laredo and Eagle Pass and beyond, so the likelihood of more flooding and levee breaks is yet a probability, not just a possibility.
The national news media, almost as if waving goodbye to the "bigger" story of a levee break, has opined that all is well with the levees--without even so much as an interview with anyone to substantiate their theory. I am by no means hoping for a flood or a break in the levee system, but realistically, judging from Dolly's path and lasting rainfall--with outer bands affecting Austin, San Antonio, Houston and Louisianna, it would be premature to say the Valley's levees will hold.
The average amount of rainfall from Dolly for the four-county region is 7", according to KRGV-TV. Most parts of the Valley got 8.5"; several areas got 12" to 15".
The Texas National Guard started distributing food, ice, and water today. The Salvation Army is expted on S.P.I. and perhaps other areas on Friday.
I know this is much to take in, but I know that there are several of you from out of town and wish to stay abreast of what's up. So I hope this helps.
Overall, we're okay; no reports of death yet; severed fingers, broken arms (and egos)--some dude fell of a balcony in S.P.I.--but otherwise, we're okay. Now tell that to the folks with "water" beds in their colonias. So flooding--diesel, and pesticides, and cemeteries, and toxic chemicals, and wastewater--is still an issue for many folks. Not so in Mission and McAllen, but in other parts it's scary.
So by no means is this hurricane's damage completely known or completely gone. Dolly came to dance with a full dance card, then went ahead and danced some more. And she was a horrible dancer who stepped on lots of toes.
Thanks to all for your warm and well wishes and prayers. Let's keep the folks in the flooded and no-power areas in our prayers still. Thanks.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Good Golly, Ms. Dolly!
McAllen--2:45 p.m.
Wow, no sooner said than done. Dolly must be reading my blog and not liking it.
I hit enter last time and bam!
Hard rain--not heavy--but hard. Again, at that same 40-45-degree angle and consistent as all get out. Quite windy now, consistently.
KRGV-TV reports McAllen metro area has received 1/2" to 1" of rain per hour. If that trend continues--though it doesn't sound bad at a glance, that won't fare well for some of us.
Brownsville, Harlingen, Raymondville and low-lying areas like Green Valley Acres near San Benito will likely have it bad before it's all over.
Dolly is twirling and whirling and moving right along, soaking up as much water as she can. We'll see how it goes.
Wow, no sooner said than done. Dolly must be reading my blog and not liking it.
I hit enter last time and bam!
Hard rain--not heavy--but hard. Again, at that same 40-45-degree angle and consistent as all get out. Quite windy now, consistently.
KRGV-TV reports McAllen metro area has received 1/2" to 1" of rain per hour. If that trend continues--though it doesn't sound bad at a glance, that won't fare well for some of us.
Brownsville, Harlingen, Raymondville and low-lying areas like Green Valley Acres near San Benito will likely have it bad before it's all over.
Dolly is twirling and whirling and moving right along, soaking up as much water as she can. We'll see how it goes.
Dolly be Bad! Hurricane Update
McAllen--2 p.m. July 23, 2008
The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is reporting that Hurricane Dolly is likely to drop 8--12 inches of rain in the Rio Grande Valley.
Updates can be found at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/231658.shtml
CNN and other national stations are reporting that wind speed maximums are 100 MPH. That's only half-true. That's the highest wind speeds reported thus far. It's not like a hurricane can't decide to blow harder, Category notwithstanding. MSNBC is interviewing the mayor of Corpus Christi, 125 miles north of Brownsville, who reports funnel cloud activity and tons of rain.
Dolly finally crossed--or is crossing over South Padre Island and the eye wall is near land, but there has been no official landfall--in the mainland.
A KRGV-TV news vehicle (or perhaps a private one belonging to the cameraman) had its door blown away when the reporter, Stephanie Stone was asked by the news anchors to try to open the door to take a peek outside.
About 37 people had to be evacuted in Laguna Vista and Laguna Heights area, KRGV-TV reports.
In McAllen we are seeing relative calm, but some gusts had the rain falling at a 45-degree angle for several minutes about 20 minutes ago. Still relatively calm, and not pouring rain just now.
Landfall is expected near Port Mansfield--where Hurricane Allen hit land as well, in 1980.
NOAA's National Hurricane Center (National Weather Service Advisory #13: "...DOLLY HESITATES...EYEWALL OF DOLLY CROSSING SOUTH PADRE ISLAND..."
"DOLLY HAS BEEN MEANDERING FOR THE PAST HOUR OR SO BUT IT SHOULDBEGIN TO MOVE TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 7 MPH...11 KM/HR SOON. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE EYE OF HURRICANE DOLLY WILL BE CROSSINGTHE COAST ALONG THE SOUTHERN TEXAS COAST IN A COUPLE OF HOURS.PERSONS ARE ADVISED NOT TO VENTURE OUTDOORS DURING THE RELATIVECALM OF THE EYE BECAUSE WINDS WILL SOON INCREASE QUITE RAPIDLY.MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 100 MPH...160 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. "
The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is reporting that Hurricane Dolly is likely to drop 8--12 inches of rain in the Rio Grande Valley.
Updates can be found at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/231658.shtml
CNN and other national stations are reporting that wind speed maximums are 100 MPH. That's only half-true. That's the highest wind speeds reported thus far. It's not like a hurricane can't decide to blow harder, Category notwithstanding. MSNBC is interviewing the mayor of Corpus Christi, 125 miles north of Brownsville, who reports funnel cloud activity and tons of rain.
Dolly finally crossed--or is crossing over South Padre Island and the eye wall is near land, but there has been no official landfall--in the mainland.
A KRGV-TV news vehicle (or perhaps a private one belonging to the cameraman) had its door blown away when the reporter, Stephanie Stone was asked by the news anchors to try to open the door to take a peek outside.
About 37 people had to be evacuted in Laguna Vista and Laguna Heights area, KRGV-TV reports.
In McAllen we are seeing relative calm, but some gusts had the rain falling at a 45-degree angle for several minutes about 20 minutes ago. Still relatively calm, and not pouring rain just now.
Landfall is expected near Port Mansfield--where Hurricane Allen hit land as well, in 1980.
NOAA's National Hurricane Center (National Weather Service Advisory #13: "...DOLLY HESITATES...EYEWALL OF DOLLY CROSSING SOUTH PADRE ISLAND..."
"DOLLY HAS BEEN MEANDERING FOR THE PAST HOUR OR SO BUT IT SHOULDBEGIN TO MOVE TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 7 MPH...11 KM/HR SOON. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE EYE OF HURRICANE DOLLY WILL BE CROSSINGTHE COAST ALONG THE SOUTHERN TEXAS COAST IN A COUPLE OF HOURS.PERSONS ARE ADVISED NOT TO VENTURE OUTDOORS DURING THE RELATIVECALM OF THE EYE BECAUSE WINDS WILL SOON INCREASE QUITE RAPIDLY.MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 100 MPH...160 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. "
Dolly, Be Good! Hurricane Update!
McAllen--12:10 p.m. July 23, 2008
News Channel 4 (KGBT-TV) is reporting almost a dozen downed power lines; they showed video of several poles cracked or fallen. The wind gusts are consistently near 79 MPH in some parts of Brownsville.
The eye of the hurricane is still hovering near S.P.I., but has not yet officially made landfall itself, which means, likely, that at this pace (7 MPH) it will take about 25 hours to cross the Rio Grande Valley--Cameron, Willacy, Hidalgo, and Starr Counties--and drop an increasingly scary amount of rain. It's as if she'll be taking bucketfulls of water from the tub of the Gulf and constantly soaking the Valley; fighting us from a distance; fighting her own debilitating death. But not before she inundates us.
There's a tornado watch until 7 p.m. for the Valley.
Channel 5 (KRGV-TV) is reporting debris at Port Isabel--rain gutters, etc. They also showed video of a downed light pole--the parking lot variety, not a power line--at Wal-Green's in downtown Harlingen; there, gusts are consistently at near 40 MPH (at the Harlingen Medical Center gauge).
The last hurricane to hit the area directly was Hurricane Allen in 1980. It made landfall at Port Mansfield and did a good job of blanketing the Valley in rain and flooding--but not nearly as devastating as Beulah in 1967.
God help us.
News Channel 4 (KGBT-TV) is reporting almost a dozen downed power lines; they showed video of several poles cracked or fallen. The wind gusts are consistently near 79 MPH in some parts of Brownsville.
The eye of the hurricane is still hovering near S.P.I., but has not yet officially made landfall itself, which means, likely, that at this pace (7 MPH) it will take about 25 hours to cross the Rio Grande Valley--Cameron, Willacy, Hidalgo, and Starr Counties--and drop an increasingly scary amount of rain. It's as if she'll be taking bucketfulls of water from the tub of the Gulf and constantly soaking the Valley; fighting us from a distance; fighting her own debilitating death. But not before she inundates us.
There's a tornado watch until 7 p.m. for the Valley.
Channel 5 (KRGV-TV) is reporting debris at Port Isabel--rain gutters, etc. They also showed video of a downed light pole--the parking lot variety, not a power line--at Wal-Green's in downtown Harlingen; there, gusts are consistently at near 40 MPH (at the Harlingen Medical Center gauge).
The last hurricane to hit the area directly was Hurricane Allen in 1980. It made landfall at Port Mansfield and did a good job of blanketing the Valley in rain and flooding--but not nearly as devastating as Beulah in 1967.
God help us.
Getting Dolly-ed up: Update on Hurricane
Hurricane Dolly update: 10:53 a.m. July 23, 2008
MCALLEN--Right now Hurricane Dolly is still gaining strength; now a Category 2. The outer-to-middle bands are over us, but the eye is still percolating in the Gulf, still outside South Padre Island. Wind gusts in Raymondville have been reported to up to 119 MPH, so the region is already feeling it, but still calm in McAllen. Less calm as the day progresses.
KRGV-TV 5 is reporting that a shelter in Harlingen, Harlingen South High School, as far as I know--has lost power. With winds so high, it's not unlikely. Channel 5 is broadcasting now in Spanish and English--usually only English; and also has a translator for the deaf. Right now it's my cousin, Chris Ordaz, an experienced translator for the deaf.
Tops of trees in McAllen are swaying gently still. Neighbors are walking their dogs, etc. Not much rain just now, but overcast. Still pretty bright, though. We're caught between two squalls--one to the east, one to the west. So people in cities around us are feeling the hurricane already.
The eye is still off the coast, technically not yet over South Padre Island. Moving about 7 MPH, and gaining strength with winds at 100 MPH (<95 is Cat. 1).
KNVO-48 is reporting that Matamoros and Brownsville city officials are coordinating their emergency efforst to some degree-cross border interaction despite the Rio Grande that divides the two cities/countries. There at at least 300 Mexican soldiers deployed to help with storm issues in Matamoros, the city just south of Brownsville. Gov. Perry called up some of the National Guard before the storm even hit; usually they wait until it's over before calling them up.
MCALLEN--Right now Hurricane Dolly is still gaining strength; now a Category 2. The outer-to-middle bands are over us, but the eye is still percolating in the Gulf, still outside South Padre Island. Wind gusts in Raymondville have been reported to up to 119 MPH, so the region is already feeling it, but still calm in McAllen. Less calm as the day progresses.
KRGV-TV 5 is reporting that a shelter in Harlingen, Harlingen South High School, as far as I know--has lost power. With winds so high, it's not unlikely. Channel 5 is broadcasting now in Spanish and English--usually only English; and also has a translator for the deaf. Right now it's my cousin, Chris Ordaz, an experienced translator for the deaf.
Tops of trees in McAllen are swaying gently still. Neighbors are walking their dogs, etc. Not much rain just now, but overcast. Still pretty bright, though. We're caught between two squalls--one to the east, one to the west. So people in cities around us are feeling the hurricane already.
The eye is still off the coast, technically not yet over South Padre Island. Moving about 7 MPH, and gaining strength with winds at 100 MPH (<95 is Cat. 1).
KNVO-48 is reporting that Matamoros and Brownsville city officials are coordinating their emergency efforst to some degree-cross border interaction despite the Rio Grande that divides the two cities/countries. There at at least 300 Mexican soldiers deployed to help with storm issues in Matamoros, the city just south of Brownsville. Gov. Perry called up some of the National Guard before the storm even hit; usually they wait until it's over before calling them up.
Dolly, Pardon Us! Hurricane looms. Notes from McAllen.
Dolly was upgraded to a hurricane on at about 4 p.m. on Tues., July 22, 2008. Presently—at 9:35 a.m. the outer bands are already inland, but the real trouble hasn’t started yet in McAllen, Texas. Video from South Padre Island shows the wind is already an issue there.
The eye, unfortunately, is still several minutes away. What we thought was going to be a fast-moving storm has been instead incubating, sitting in the deep, warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, gaining strength. It may yet turn into a Cat. 2 storm instead of the barely Cat. 1 hurricane predicted.
Most folks around here have sandbags out, but few have boarded up their windows, because the destructive wind speeds weren’t expected. If this thing churns out any tornadoes, which it likely will, this will all be a different story—never mind the flooding that will occur eventually.
Sadly, the construction of the "border wall" began this week in South Texas. The County of Hidalgo is actually in charge of construction, because the county has been begging the federal government for money to rebuild the levee system--like the one that failed in New Orleans in 2005--because this area, the Rio Grande Valley, is prone to flooding during hurricanes and tropical storms. The last time the levee broke was in 1967 during Hurricane Beulah. It was really destructive here.
The county decided to make a deal with the Department of Homeland Security to basically combine the construction of the border wall with the strengthening of the levee system, which is why Hidalgo County is in charge of the construction. The cost of the border wall; just in this area (22 miles): $113.9 million. The county does not expect the federal government to ante up; instead it’s expecting reimbursement next year. The Anzaldua's Dam was constructed in 1960 but that did not keep Hurricane Beulah from flooding the region.
The poorer people in Mexico are going to have it bad, even if the levees don't break. (Their levees are practically non-existent.)
As far as I know from local TV news, folks are drifting into area shelters, especially people who live in trailer parks. Unfortunately, the Valley has a history of placing people in school gymnasiums and cafeterias instead of in classrooms and hallways. Gyms and cafeterias are large spaces with too much roofing, which could collapse or fly away. Individual classrooms in schools--which are the go-to shelters in this region--are better suited for protection from the elements: more walls, less roof, more privacy.
God, help us.
The eye, unfortunately, is still several minutes away. What we thought was going to be a fast-moving storm has been instead incubating, sitting in the deep, warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, gaining strength. It may yet turn into a Cat. 2 storm instead of the barely Cat. 1 hurricane predicted.
Most folks around here have sandbags out, but few have boarded up their windows, because the destructive wind speeds weren’t expected. If this thing churns out any tornadoes, which it likely will, this will all be a different story—never mind the flooding that will occur eventually.
Sadly, the construction of the "border wall" began this week in South Texas. The County of Hidalgo is actually in charge of construction, because the county has been begging the federal government for money to rebuild the levee system--like the one that failed in New Orleans in 2005--because this area, the Rio Grande Valley, is prone to flooding during hurricanes and tropical storms. The last time the levee broke was in 1967 during Hurricane Beulah. It was really destructive here.
The county decided to make a deal with the Department of Homeland Security to basically combine the construction of the border wall with the strengthening of the levee system, which is why Hidalgo County is in charge of the construction. The cost of the border wall; just in this area (22 miles): $113.9 million. The county does not expect the federal government to ante up; instead it’s expecting reimbursement next year. The Anzaldua's Dam was constructed in 1960 but that did not keep Hurricane Beulah from flooding the region.
The poorer people in Mexico are going to have it bad, even if the levees don't break. (Their levees are practically non-existent.)
As far as I know from local TV news, folks are drifting into area shelters, especially people who live in trailer parks. Unfortunately, the Valley has a history of placing people in school gymnasiums and cafeterias instead of in classrooms and hallways. Gyms and cafeterias are large spaces with too much roofing, which could collapse or fly away. Individual classrooms in schools--which are the go-to shelters in this region--are better suited for protection from the elements: more walls, less roof, more privacy.
God, help us.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Hello, Dolly! God hates the Border Wall!
Well, it seems to me like the Lord is not real keen on the idea of a border wall. He's sending Dolly to trace the border, right where construction is set to take off this week.
Updates on the storm that would be a hurricane: http://www.noaawatch.gov/2008/dolly.php
In the meantime, stay safe and heed the warning of the Lord, Our God!
Updates on the storm that would be a hurricane: http://www.noaawatch.gov/2008/dolly.php
In the meantime, stay safe and heed the warning of the Lord, Our God!
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