The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), No. 46, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 22, 1988 Page: 1 of 8
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Published in Rio Grande City, Texas, Every Thursday By The Rio Grande Publishing Co.
NO. 46 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22,1988
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The Rio Grande River, which rose rapidly early this week due to torrential rains
spawned by Hurricane Gilbert in northeast Mexico, is pictured above Tuesday
afternoon. At this point, the river is less than Vi mile from Rio Grande City High
School.
Gilbert's Storm Effects Mild;
Mexico Rains Swell River
By KENNETH ROBERTS
Managing Editor
The actual storm effects of
powerful Hurricane Gilbert upon
Starr County were somewhat less
than expected Friday and Satur-
day, but officials Tuesday were
sweating out a steady rise in the
Rio Grande River to near flood
stage, due to devastating flooding
in Mexico
Hurricane Gilbert cut a deadly
path through Haiti, Jamaica, and
the Yucatan Peninsula, and
seemed ready late last week to
vent its most severe fury upon The
Rio Grande Valley. Many mete-
orological experts termed Gilbert
the most powerful hurricane of this
century
Gilbert, which packed 175
mile-per-hour sustained winds and
the lowest barometric pressure
ever recorded in the Western
Shelter And Relief Plan Works Well
By KENNETH ROBERTS
Managing Editor
The Starr County community's
shelter program to aid both Valley
and local citizens seeking protec-
tion from the menacing Hurricane
Gilbert was implemented smoothly
and effectively.
That is the assessment of
everyone involved in the program
of preparing shelters and receiving
refugees, which was implemented
in a hectic 48-hour period from
Thursday noon to Saturday noon.
By Monday, the focus had turned
toward supplying aid to the hurri-
cane-ravaged areas of northern
Mexico.
County Judge J.M. Martinez, Jr.,
said, "I had no doubt that we were
ready, even if we received the full
impact of the storm...I want to
compliment the local citizenry for
the calm way in which they
prepared for the storm."
Martinez praised all levels of the
Rio Grande City CISD for their
activities in preparing and manag-
ing shelters. He said, "I want to
thank them all as a group.
Everyone was prepared and willing
to work. The ones to thank are too
numerous to mention." He praised
the efforts of all board members,
teachers, administrators, and
nonprofessionals.
The coordinator of the shelter
plan was RGCC1SD Business Man-
ager Romeo Lopez. Martinez said,
"He had a beautiful, very well-
organized plan," as he praised both
Lopez and Superintendent Dr. A.E.
Garcia for their help
Martinez added, "I was very
impressed with the individual
County Commissioners, and the
way they handled their precincts
during the stoim, and I was also
very impressed with the efforts of
the Sheriff's Department.''
Business Manager Romeo Lopez
said, "At the peak, we had 1595
refugees, mostly from the
Valley...We did have people from
Rio Grande City in shelters on a
very limited basis. Everybody
started leaving Saturday morn-
ing."
Lopez said that there were'
probably more refugees from Port
Isabel than anywhere else, but
there were also a substantial
number from Los Fresnos,
Brownsville, San Benito, South
Padre Island and Harlingen.
Lopez indicated that the RGC-
CISD served the following total of
meals: Thursday night, 400 meals;
Friday morning, 600 meals; Friday
noon, 1000; Friday evening, 1400.
Lopez noted that four out of
every five meals served by the
RGCCISD cafeterias were hot
meals.
VALLEY REFUGEES
GRATEFUL
Lopez said, "We felt good about
serving the people from these
communities They were
appreciative of our help. They were
very grateful that we had been
spared the fury of Gilbert...The
refugees had a lot of anxious
moments."
Lopez said that a large number
of refugees from the Valley, in
addition to bringing their own food,
had brought along radios to keep
track of the storm. A few had small
television sets that were hooked up
to the district's cable system.
Both the Rio Grande City High
gym and the Ringgold Jr. High
gym were utilized to give the
refugees the chance to take show
ers
Lopez indicated that the district
utilized the following 11 shelters
Roque Guerra Elementary, North
Grammar Elementary, Buildings
One, Two and Three at Ringgoln
Elementary, Building Five at
Ringgold Intermediate, Building
Six at Ringgold Jr. High, the
Ringgold Jr. High Gym, Grulla
Elementary, El Cenizo Communis v
Center in La Casita, and the
Multi-Purpose Center.
Lopez said, "The cooperation of
the school people was exemplary
Our principals and assistant prin-
cipals carried the loads at the
shelters. The radio communication
within the school system enabled
us to communicate with all shelters
with a push of a button."
Lopez stressed, "The Cafeteria,
Maintenance, Transportation,
Health Services, and Security De-
partments all worked well."
Lopez indicated, "No children
were born Our medical doctors
made the rounds of the shelters.
Three people were taken to the
hospital for various reasons," all
relatively minor.
The business manager added
Monday afternoon, "I've talked
with Judge Martinez on the Mexico
situation. He assured me that the
situation is under control. Shelters
will not be opened unless there is a
major emergency. That doesn't
1st Rabies Case Since
1969 Reported in County
The first confirmed case of
rabies in Starr County since the
late 1960's was reported early this
week by a couple living in eastern
Starr County near McCook.
Sue Smith told The Rio Grande
Herald on Monday that she and her
husband Monty, saw a coyote
scamper into their front yard on
Saturday, Sept. 3.
She said, "Both of our dogs were
bitten after they jumped and fought
it (the coyote) My husband got the
rifle and killed the animal." She
noted that both of their dogs had
earlier received rabies shots and
booster shots.
Smith added, "The dogs have
had their followup vaccinations."
According to the Texas Depart-
ment of Health, the Smiths will
need to keep an especially close
eye on their dogs for the next 45
days, she said
Rio Grande City veterinarian Dr.
Roberto S. Margo stressed, "Peo-
ple should bring their pets, both
dogs and cats, up to date on their
rabies vaccinations. Maybe we
need to have another round of
rabies clinics. Some people have
been getting lax on vaccinations."
Margo indicated, "It's been a
number of years since we've had a
rabies case in Starr County. A bat
in the La Grulla area was found to
be rabid in 1969 The bat did not
bite anyone. The school nurse (at
First National Bank Adds
San Antonio Branches
San Antonio, Tx--Fredrick Erck,
Chairman of Rio Grande City
Bancshares, Inc., holding company
for First National Bank of Rio
Grande City and Bank of
Floresville, announced today the
purchase of Trinity National Bank
in San Antonio from the FDIC.
The new bank, which includes
branches at US 281 at Mulberry
and one on Broadway in Alamo
Heights, has become First National
Bank San Antonio The new bank-
ing facilities will operate as full
service branches of First National
Bank Rio Grande City.
"We are very pleased with the
acquisition," stated Erck, "as we
have been looking for a means to
expand into the San Antonio
market And, we are very proud of
the beautiful new branch loca-
tions."
The total capital asset ratio of
First National Bank of Rio Grande
City and First National Bank San
Antonio is over seven percent, well
above the regulatory standard. The
addition of First National Bank San
Antonio brings the total assets of
Rio Grande City Bancshares, Inc.
to a healthy |1M million.
In a subsequent move, Mr. Sam
Boyd was named President of First
National Bank San Antonio Boyd
brings over SO years banking
experience to hia new post.
seem to be the case at this time."
Lopez noted, "The school has a
disaster plan that we spent some
time formulating. That is exactly
what we implemented. Everyone
asked to participate was at their
jobs, and many others besides
them participated and gave of their
time and talents. I've asked
managers' (of shelters) to sent
recommendations for improve-
ments in the future."
Lopez said with satisfaction, "I
think everything was implemented
very smoothly. By Wednesday
(Sept. 14), we developed strategies
and priorities. On Thursday after-
noon, we implemented the pro-
gram."
Superintendent Dr. A.E. Garcia
said, "I think the district personnel
responded beautifully. Words
cannot describe the cooperation of
school people on a volunteer
basis."
Garcia concluded that "this was
(See SHELTER. Pap.- 3|
that time) suspected that the bat
was rabid, she sent the bat in to be
analyzed."
The recent incident occurred at
the Smiths' home in eastern Starr
County, located at the corner of
Pipeline Road and FM 490, within a
couple of miles of the Hidalgo
County line.
After the coyote was killed, said
Mrs. Smith, "We froze the head
We took it to veterinarian Dr
Ramon Garza in McAllen. Dr
Garza sent the head to Austin," for
analysis, and confirmation came
from the Texas Department of
Health that the coyote was rabid.
Smith said that the Texas De-
partment of Health and the two
game wardens in Starr County
have been notified about the rabid
coyote. She indicated that Dr
Ramon Garza informed the Texas
Department of Public Health unit
in Hidalgo County about the
animal.
Smith said, "It (the coyote) did
not appear to be in bad health, it
looked very normal. It was coming
into our front yard, and got to
within 10 to 15 feet of us This
coyote was just four feet off our
front doorstep."
Smith insisted, "The Austin
Public Health should have notified
local units, but didn't. Dr Garza
notified the unit in Hida'go Coun-
ty...I have spoken with a case
investigator from the Texas De-
partment of Health in
Brownsville."
Smith said, "Our cat is in
(See RABIES. Page .11
Hemisphere before hitting the
Yucatan area on Wednesday, ul-
timately made landfall at about 5
p.m. Friday about 110 miles south
of Brownsville on Mexico's Gulf
Coast
The hurricane, which pounded
the coast of Mexico with 120
mile-per-hour winds, dropped up to
28 inches of rain on the Monterrey
area on Friday night and Saturday,
causing disastrous flooding that
took the lives of more than 200
persons.
The International Boundary and
Water Commission indicated
Tuesday night that the Rio Grande
River would continue to rise slowly
during most of the night, but would
start to level off Wednesday
morning and begin to recede very
slowly later in the day.
Tom Hutchins, project manager
for the IBWC office at Mercedes,
said Tuesday night that the Rio
Grande River was, as of 8 p.m.,
flowing past Rio Grande City at a
rate of 45,600 cubic feet per second,
with a gradual rise expected during
the night.
Hutchins noted, however, that the
outflow out of the overflowing Lake
Marta Gomez approximately 25
miles southwest of Rio Grande City
had decreased from 45,600 cubic
feet per second (cfs) to 42,000 cfs
as of 8 p.m. Tuesday evening. He
indicated that this lake's outflow
could decline to 36,000 cfs by dawn
Wednesday.
Hutchins indicated Wednesday
morning, "It (the Rio Grande
River near Rio Grande City) hit a
peak during the night and is
staying at that level. It h.t a peak
of almost 50.000 cfs, and it's
dropped a couple of hundred cfs
since then. It (the river) is starting
to come down slowly .'
Hutchins indicated that the flow
from Marta Gomez, as of 6 a.m.,
was 38,000 cfs. He said, "The water
won't get any higher the remainder
of the week, but it won't drop off
that much."
The rapid rise in the Rio Grande
was caused by torrential rains in
the watersheds of both the' San
By KENNETH ROBERTS
Manuring Editor
As Hurricane Gilbert carried out
its deadly track toward the Gulf
Coast of either Texas or Mexico
last week, all groups of Starr
County residents took precautions
against one of this century's most
severe storms.
The weather consequences of
Hurricane Gilbert, as well as
actual implementation of disaster
relief and shelter plans, are noted
elsewhere in this edition of The Rio
Grande Herald
At Wednesday night's meeting of
the Rio Grande City CISD board of
trustees, attended by scores of
citizens, County Judge J.M.
Martinez, Jr., said, "It is time for
us to think about what needs to be
done."
Martinez, in discussing the power
and direction of Gilbert, said that
the problem most likely to be faced
would be serious flooding He noted
that flooding was the worst effect
of Hurricane Beulah upon Starr
County in 1967
Martinez indicated, "Our
(shelter) problems would come in
two ways. The first would be a
wave of refugees from the Texas
Gulf Coast. The other would be
refugees from the border region in
Mexico."
The judge warned that "the area
just across the river in Mexico is
very low, much lower than
here. The Mexican government
does not have as good an emergen
cy setup for areas so far away
from their main facilities We will
have a lot of refugees from
Mexico."
About the hurricane itself,
Martinez commented, "It stacks up
to be one of the worst in history
They have never recorded such a
low barometric pressure It covers
almost the entire Gulf According
to projections, the Valley is the
most likely target."
Martinez contended, "Whatever
happens can be handled and will be
handled "
About the county's interaction
with the school district concerning
the hurricane, Martinez said, "Mr.
Juan River and the Alamo River,
with the first river emptying just
west of Rio Grande City and the
latter emptying near Roma.
County Judge J.M Martinez, Jr.,
said Tuesday afternoon that ac-
cording to the Judicial Police of
Mexico, "it is beginning to recede
very slowly at Sugar Lake."
Martinez told The Rio Grande
Herald at 3:; C p.m Tuesday,
"There's no real danger to people
here in Starr County. It has
peaked, according to all the re-
ports. There may have been some
losses to farmland (along the river
in Starr County) I'm sure that
farmers have removed all their
pumps from near the river."
The judge added, "Camargo
seems to be all right." He said that
the most serious crisis seemed to
be at some isolated hamlets on the
north side of Sugar Lake.
Tom Hutchins of IBWC told The
Herald Tuesday night, "We're
looking at it peaking tonight and
leveling tomorrow. Anyone should
move out of low-lying areas near
the river. We do not anticipate
flooding other than in low-lying
areas."
Early Tuesday afternoon, Sheriff
Gene Falcon indicated that lowland
flooding east of Rio seemed likely,
but did not appear to threaten the
safety of any citizens.
Early Wednesday morning, a
substantial rise in the water of Los
Olmos Creek cnild be seen from
the U.S. 83 bridge east of Rio.
Los Oimos CreedLiorroPaul
Rhone of IBWC told The Herald at
4:30 p.m. Tuesday, "Marta Gomez
has peake\ id started down. It
he d coiistaul from 4 a.m. to noon
at 45,60") cfs. At 1 p.m., the reading
was '4.800 cfs. According to the
Weather Service, we are below
flood stage, which would be 49,500
cfs."
Rhone had told The Herald at
11:30 a m Tuesday, "The outflow
from Marta Gomez peaked at 5
a.m. Tuesday at 45,600 cfs, and is
still holding steady. It should start
(See GILBERT. Page 5|
I
(Romeo) Lopez (the Business
Manager) has assured us of the
help of all the principals. North
Grammar should be used as a
shelter for the El Ogadero people.
The Valley people last time were
able to leave after the second day."
Martinez added, "You better be
prepared to hold people from
Mexico for several days Perhaps
you can place them in buildings
you don't absolutely have to have."
The judge continued, "A
coordinating office can be started
tomorrow at the courthouse."
He said that two of the worst
potential problems from the storm
could be loss of electrical power
and communications.
Robert Maples, manager of
Central Power and Light in Rio
Grande City, said, "We've been
monitoring this; we already have
our emergency plans in operation.
If it hit anywhere in the Valley, we
will see some pretty bad damage.
Power comes from the Valley; it
they lose it, we lose it here."
Martinez said, "I don't recall us
losing electrical power for long
periods of time (during past
hurricanes)." Maples indicated,
"We have two transmission lines
feeding into our system."
Leonel "Nene" Lopez, local
manager of GTE and a member of
the board of trustees, said, "We
have our own generators; we're on
fiberoptics. The only way we could
lose communications is to lose
poles Rio Radio is providing some
microwave communications
equipment. Communications to
Harlingen could be cut off."
COMMAND POST
NEEDED
Chief Deputy J C. Gomez said,
"The one thing we need is a
command post We're preparing to
sandbag the rear of the basement "
RGCCISD head nurse Imelda
Ramon said, "They (the Texas
Department of Public Health) will
come to the Sheriff's office, with
diptheria and other vac .ines "
Martinez said, "We're planning
to use the County Courtroom as the
command post I don't think we
need to worry about contamination
of water, unless flooding persists.
We would have water trucks
available from the state emergency
relief team."
RGCCISD Superintendent Dr.
A.E. Garcia said, "The Red Cross
representative called me today. If
and when we go to a warning, they
will evacuate South Padre Island
and Port Isabel. A total of 500
persons would come up here by
buses. Refugees from Mexico
would come in a spontaneous
manner."
Trustee Rafael Carrera said,"If
the storm continues the same way,
people will start coming up here
tomorrow."
Martinez concluded, "We will
have medical problems, especially
if there are refugees from Mex-
ico." Garcia said that the Red
Cross would send helpers, and also
cots and other essentials as the
need arises.
Dr. Antonio Falcon, president of
the school board, said, "The
hospital is working St John's
Methodist Church will act as an
auxiliary hospital. Diesel, water,
and gasoline are plentiful at the
hospital The generators are pre-
paring for the storm."
About potential flooding danger
spots, Martinez said, "You could
get to Garciasville all right." He
recalled that in the past "there was
flooding on U.S. 83 east. FM 755
(Sr. PREPARED. Pa|t«* 4)
San Isidro 4-H
Helping Mexico
Hurricane Victims
Members of the San Isidro 4-H
Club are starting a drive to collect
clothing to help victims of Hurri-
cane Gilbert in Mexico
County Extension Agent Enrique
Perez said that the first shipment
of clothes will leave San Isidro on
Monday, with the destination being
Monterrey Perez stressed, "This is
a community project under the
leadership of 4-H officers.
Anyone seeking further informa-
tion should contact club leader
Maria Lillie Trevino at 481-3669
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Roberts, Kenneth. The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), No. 46, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 22, 1988, newspaper, September 22, 1988; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195151/m1/1/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.