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RIO GRANDE FLOODING UPDATE:

Sunday, July 18th, 2010

Falcon Dam Peaked Overnight; County Remains Ready

 Texas Border Business----

Hidalgo County emergency management officials continue to monitor water levels at all points along the Rio Grande River and inside the floodway, and are also monitoring the weather which forecasts isolated showers today. 

Falcon Dam peaked overnight at 309.3 feet above mean sea level and elevation levels will slowly fall as river inflows from upstream match outflows going downstream and into the interior floodway.  Releases from Falcon Dam continue at 60,000 cubic feet per second and discharges are expected to remain constant with no anticipated changes in release for the next 24 hours, according to IBWC representative Carlos Pena.

State resources arrived this week and are stationed along with local assets at staging areas in Weslaco and Mission, including 2 CH47 Chinook helicopters to be used for large sandbag drops to reinforce levees if necessary; several thousand 3,000-lb. super sandbags; boats for swift-water rescues; high-profile vehicles; buses; and pumps and hoses to redirect water from flooded areas.

“State and local officials and resources remain on standby around the clock monitoring the river and coordinating responses to various situations that arise,” said Hidalgo County Incident Commander CJ Moreno.

“Our regional coordination team is prepared to assess, prioritize and deploy crews to perform emergency repairs on critical structures to maintain the integrity of the levees, to pump water out of flooded areas, and to respond to rescue situations should the need arise.” 

This morning, the Mission Swift-water Rescue Team and Texas Swift-water Rescue Team rescued three Mexican nationals from the Rio Grande River in the Las Lomitas area near Anzalduas Dam.  Yesterday, pumps were diverted to areas along the interior floodway where gates have not been functioning properly and releasing water into surrounding areas.

The pumping activities will keep the interior drainage system low in the event of rain.  Earlier in the week, contingency berms were constructed near the pump houses in Penitas and United Irrigation District in Mission to serve as secondary flood control structures. 

Residents are asked to remain on high-alert.  All mandatory and voluntary evacuations in Los Ebanos, Penitas, La Joya, and S. Pharr (south of Military Hwy on Doffing Rd) which have been ordered by the County Judge or by cities’ mayors, are still in effect.

The County Public Emergency Hotline remains open for Hidalgo County residents requesting information at 1-866-613-5277.

 

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