Following the floods

When it rains, it really pours.

The Rio Grande Valley saw alarming rates of rain Thursday that flooded cities and left people stranded — leaving vehicles on roads and probably having many people thinking: “Well, how am I to get home?” Local, state and national news outlets reported on the flooding that to say the least — shocked the region.

With a quick online search, aerial-view shots can see how much our area looked to be underwater. Vehicles seen deep in pools of water, signage, as well as trees saw wear and tear.

On a local level, those driving through North Jackson Road in Pharr at night could see vehicles stranded — as other roads were closed. Street curbs were barely visible due to the water. A tow truck or two could be seen as well. On the same street, an orange sign that reads “Road Work Ahead” swung upside down due to the winds.

Following the storm, Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D., declared a local state of disaster for the city effective March 27.

“This Declaration of Disaster was made pursuant to the Texas Disaster Act of 1975 and the Texas Government Code Section 418.108(a). The Texas Disaster Act of 1975 designates Mayor Hernandez as Emergency Management Director for the City of Pharr; the declaration allows him to activate the city’s emergency management plan,” the city said in a release.

Other cities, such as Edinburg and McAllen, also declared a disaster declaration.

“This storm has caused significant challenges for our community, and we are committed to doing everything possible to help McAllen recover,” said McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos in a release. “By issuing this disaster declaration, we are taking the necessary steps to access state and federal funding that will provide relief for our residents and businesses and help the City of McAllen restore infrastructure as quickly as possible.”

Hidalgo County also joined the effort as Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez signed a Declaration of Local Disaster after the region suffered flooding and damage from the storm.

The county reported in a release that parts of the region saw as much as 14 inches of rain. A social media post by the City of Edinburg reported about 11 inches of rain.

The county also reported in the same release that at least three fatalities were recorded.

Recovery Efforts

The City of Pharr Public Works crews are still hard at work in assisting residents with cleanup and recovery efforts following Thursday’s storm.

“The City of Pharr remains fully committed to the well-being of our residents,” said Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D., in a release. “Our crews are working around the clock to address the needs of our community, and we have implemented several ongoing resources to assist in the cleanup process.”

The city released measures for residents to follow as part of the ongoing efforts.

For debris and trash pickup, residents can see the guidelines posted on the city’s social media pages. For those who may have lost a trash bin, residents can call (956) 402-4151.

This week, residents can drop off bulky items at the Public Works facility, located at 800 Maco Drive in Pharr. From Monday to Friday, the facility is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If one goes on a Saturday, they are open from 8 a.m. to noon.

Accepted items include tires, furniture and mattresses. However, refrigerators, glass, hazardous waste and batteries will not be accepted.

Permit Fee Waivers

To help residents and business owners even more, the City of Pharr’s Building & Code Compliance Department is waiving fees for roof permits and emergency flood repair permits for both commercial and residential properties.

“Our team is dedicated to restoring our community swiftly and safely,” said City of Pharr Public Works Director Luis Marin in a release. “We encourage all residents to stay updated through our official channels for the latest information on recovery efforts or to contact our office with any questions.”

For information, call (956) 402-4210. Pharr Public Works can also be contacted at (956) 402-4350.