Fatalities reported after Texas storm causes flooding and submerged vehicles

Three people are dead after severe storms swept through Texas, leaving behind flooded and clogged roads. 

Between 6 to 12 inches of rain fell in parts of the south of the state in the past 24 hours, according to the National Weather Service. 

Flash flood emergencies had to be issued on Thursday night and into Friday morning in counties along the US-Mexico border. 

News footage from the flooded communities captured the devastation, with waterlogged cars abandoned on streets.

In an update on Friday evening, officials in Hidalgo County said that three people had died. Their identities remain unknown at this time. 

Authorities in Harlingen county reported that they had experienced a rainfall of more than 21 inches in the past week. The heavy rainfall on Thursday led to the rescue of 200 residents.

Meanwhile, in Alamo, the police and fire departments were busy responding to over 100 water rescues. These rescues involved individuals who were stranded in their vehicles or trapped in their homes due to the flooding.

Fire officials in the county confirmed there were over 100 high water rescues in the area after a foot of rain fell on Wednesday. 

In some counties rainfall totals exceeded records that go back over 100 years. 

The rains stopped on Friday morning before moving towards Louisiana and eastern parts of the state.  

The aftermath persisted, with more than 3,400 homes in several counties remained without power on Friday afternoon. 

A flood warning remained active for some parts of South Texas, specifically Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy counties. The warning was expected to last until early Friday afternoon as stated by the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service said: ‘There´s a break from the rain this morning, which will allow flood waters to gradually recede, but we´ll still need to keep an eye on the development of isolated showers and thunderstorms once again this afternoon.

‘Any additional rainfall will be quick to cause flooding issues given the heavy rainfall that has already fallen.’

Alamo Fire Department Chief R.C. Flores told reporters: ‘I assure the public that we are assessing the situation on the hour, every hour. We´re constantly going out, not just in our city.

‘Just because the storm is over, it doesn´t mean that the emergencies and the disaster is over. We are going to continue to work as long as we need to.’ 

Weslaco Mayor Adrian Gonzalez said his city was inundated with about 14 inches  of rain, prompting 30 to 40 water rescues of stranded motorists and residents trapped in their homes by rising floodwaters.

‘It’s a historic rainstorm and it´s affecting all the Valley, not just Weslaco. It´s just so much water in a short period of time,’ Gonzalez told reporters.

In neighboring Cameron County, officials asked Gov. Greg Abbott to declare a disaster for the county after more than 17 inches of rain caused significant flooding.

‘The rainfall amounts we received have been record-setting, and not in a good way. All county resources are being utilized right now, and we are assisting in all ways possible,’ Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr., the county’s top elected official, said .

Valley International Airport in Harlingen was closed on Friday and all flights were canceled due to area flooding.

‘We are working tirelessly to reopen and focused on ensuring safety,’ airport officials said in a statement.

Some schools and college campuses canceled classes on Friday also due to the weather.

A shelter had to be opened in Weslaco and officials in Harlingen had opened the city’s convention center as a shelter for those in need.