Miller said Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties were the hardest hit. He said the sheer volume of rain caused “severe harm.”
“In addition to extensive damage to homes, vehicles, and infrastructure, the region is also facing significant agricultural and livestock losses,” he said.
More than a foot of rain was recorded in parts of Hidalgo County over 48 hours by Friday afternoon, the weather service said in a statement.
The city of Harlingen in Cameron County was flooded after more than 21 ½ inches of rain fell, Mayor Norma Sepulveda said. A convention center was opened for displaced residents, and those safe at home were urged to stay there.
“This, of course, has been a historic and challenging event for the city, but Harlingen is strong,” Sepulveda said at a news conference. “We have faced adversity before and we will get through this together.”
Cortez said progress was being made on the widespread damage in Hidalgo County.
“Emergency Management efforts, in tandem with local precincts, are making strides one day following a storm that moved slowly across the region and resulted in much more rain than expected,” he said.
Jionni Ochoa’s home in Palm Valley, a town of around 1,400 near Harlingen, was among those that flooded.
“The bed is the only thing dry right now, because the sofas are soaked. Everything is soaked,” Ochoa, 46, told The Associated Press.
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