Floodwaters persist in some areas

EDINBURG - Hidalgo County continued to assess the storm damage left by Hurricane Dolly Friday morning, as thousands remained without power and floodwaters began to recede in most areas.

As of 9:30 a.m., about 33 percent of American Electric Power's grid - the primary electricity provider in Hidalgo County - remained down, affecting more than 61,000 people.

And authorities had only just begun to gain control over several feet of water that had spilled over roadways and flooded homes in the Delta region.

Still, sheriff's deputies continued rescue and evacuation efforts in areas where irrigation and drainage infrastructure had either failed or been topped.

Residents left their homes in rafts Friday morning in a neighborhood near the intersection of Mile 17 ½ and Farm-to-Market Road 907, northeast of Edinburg. And an irrigation levee was breached sending thousands of gallons of water into neighborhoods near the intersection of Mile 10 ½ and La Homa roads, northwest of Alton.

But despite the continuing problems, attitudes among emergency management officials were markedly optimistic - a stark contrast from the hours before the Category 1 hurricane hit the area Wednesday evening.

"The water is receding," said Hidalgo County spokeswoman Cari Lambrecht. "More roadways are cleared, more people are returning home and more businesses are reopening."

Assessment teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are scheduled to tour the region later this afternoon to begin to put a price tag on damage. Insurance estimators put the losses at $750 million.

President Bush declared 15 South Texas counties a disaster area, making federal funding available to local governments for storm recovery. But it was unclear when that money could begin to pour into the region.

The Delta area - including communities such as Edcouch, Elsa, Monte Alto and La Villa - are expected to be the hardest hit and remained the only population center in Hidalgo County still experiencing flooding issues Friday, Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas said.

Emergency responders hoped to move a food and water distribution point out to the area Friday, and went door-to-door to warn residents to boil all water and to keep children out of the flooded areas.

The commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services - David A. Lakey - was also due to visit the county Friday over concerns that bacteria in flood waters could cause problems.

Standing water left in pools across the region could also pose an increase risk for mosquitoes and insect-borne diseases.

"Crews will be working out there and may start pumping water out of affected areas," Lambrecht said.

An ever-dwindling number of people also remained at the county's three remaining storm shelters. As of this morning, fewer than 300 remained, Lambrecht said.

National Guard troops and emergency management officials were also set to continue food and potable water distribution efforts at the Pharr Convention Center, located at 3000 N. Cage Boulevard.

Thursday, relief workers distributed 32 pallets of water and more than 1,600 meals to thousands who showed up.

Still, the most difficult work seemed to be dispelling persistent rumors that sent residents in some areas into a panic.

Rumors that the Pharr point of distribution was handing out free gasoline brought several hoping to top off their tanks.

And television news reports that the county had ordered a mandatory evacuation of Monte Alto whipped up a frenzy in the northeastern community.

"We had a local media outlet that said there was a mandatory evacuation in Monte Alto," Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas said. "It's created a lot of more work for us and our staff ... What happened is they said the mayor of Monte Alto declared it; well there isn't a mayor of Monte Alto."

County Emergency Management Coordinator Tony Peña stressed that residents should only believe an evacuation order if it clearly is from county officials.

Monitor staff writers Kyle Arnold and Sean Gaffney contributed to this report.

Jeremy Roebuck covers courts and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4437.