Get Prepared As Storm Months Approach

By:

Get Prepared As Storm Months Approach

Community News Comments
Torrential rains in March 2025 swamped the Harlingen area with over 15 inches of rain in a 24-hour period of time. (Courtesy)
Torrential rains in March 2025 swamped the Harlingen area with over 15 inches of rain in a 24-hour period of time. (Courtesy)

The torrential March 2025 rains that soaked the Rio Grande Valley provided local residents with a perspective of what could await them as this year’s hurricane season began on June 1. 

McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos was among the local leaders who spoke during a recent Hurricane preparedness meeting. (Courtesy)
McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos was among the local leaders who spoke during a recent Hurricane preparedness meeting. (Courtesy)

“Those heavy March rains were a wakeup call,” Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza said. “It was a powerful reminder that we can’t afford to be complacent.”

Garza made those remarks during a recent Hurricane Preparedness Joint Regional Conference that was hosted by the Edinburg mayor at the city’s main administration building. Those in attendance included Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez and McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos. Police and fire chiefs from several Hidalgo County cities were there as well along with area urban managers involved in disaster planning and coordinating response teams.

The uniform message was to get ready early in the hurricane season with the essentials of supplies, flood insurance, refilling prescriptions, and properly securing important documents. 

“Your individual readiness is a key piece of our regional strategies,” Garza said.

Downed power lines and electrical outages are likely during any hurricane event, as occurred when Hurricane Hanna hit the Rio Grande Valley in 2020. (Courtesy)
Downed power lines and electrical outages are likely during any hurricane event, as occurred when Hurricane Hanna hit the Rio Grande Valley in 2020. (Courtesy)

To-Do List

County Judge Cortez reported that the most credible hurricane prognosis sources say there will be 13 to 19 named storms during the 2025 season. Hurricane seasons average 14 named storms.

The season projects to have three to five major hurricanes, meaning a storm with winds of 111 mph or higher. Cortez said there’s a 26 percent chance a major hurricane will hit the continental United States in 2025. Additionally, there is a one in three chance that such a storm will come ashore along the Gulf Coast.

Cortez played a county-produced video that provided these guidelines in preparing for hurricane season:

  • Have three-to-seven days of non-perishable foods stored up in your pantries.
  • Have key medical information on hand and get your prescription refills early.
  • Have important insurance documents properly secured in water-proofed containers or storage bags.
  • Get sandbags early, and if possible, have them on hand before a storm enters Gulf waters.
  • Secure loose items around the house and outdoors such as furniture and lawn mowers.
Hurricane Dolly hit Brownville and Cameron County with a lethal punch in 2008. (Courtesy)
Hurricane Dolly hit Brownville and Cameron County with a lethal punch in 2008. (Courtesy)

The county judge also advised having ample amounts of physical money at hand in case of electrical outages which will limit access to ATM machines and banks. McAllen Mayor Villalobos reiterated some of the points made by Cortez and added a key piece of advice. When it comes to water supplies, store at least one gallon for each individual per day of use. 

“The time to get ready is now,” Villalobos said.

‘Whatever Comes Our Way’

The McAllen mayor also emphasized the need to utilize the communication services individual cities have available for their residents.

In McAllen, Villalobos said, residents can download a McAllen 311 app. With this, they will receive local emergency alerts that are specific to the city. Many other cities have similar services as does the county, Villalobos said, and residents in every community should utilize such city-specific information in addition to general news media sources. 

Being prepared before the flooding from a hurricane hits is essential, area leaders said recently, as the aftermath of Hurricane Hanna demonstrated in 2020. (Courtesy)
Being prepared before the flooding from a hurricane hits is essential, area leaders said recently, as the aftermath of Hurricane Hanna demonstrated in 2020. (Courtesy)

Alamo Fire Chief Roman Flores highlighted an app from the Texas Division of Emergency Management that provides a QR code specific to each hurricane or major weather event. Signing in on the app from a cell phone, users can upload up to 10 photographs of damage to their homes or premises. This provides state agencies an early look at where the damage is and what is in need of repair.

“When verification teams come to inspect, there are clusters of damage they already know about,” Flores said. “They already have areas in mind to inspect. They will tell (us), ‘Can you physically take us to these areas?’’’

Wrapping up the meeting, McAllen Mayor Villalobos had parting words of advice as the peak hurricane months of August and September near.

“Together, let’s be ready for whatever comes our way,” he said.

Comments