Hurricane Hanna Leaves a Mark on South Texas

Across South Texas, boats were destroyed, power lines came down and streets were flooded as Hanna blew through with 85-mile-per-hour winds. 

In Corpus Christi, three people had to be rescued from a sinking sailboat. 

A water rescue team from Texas A&M Task Force 1 used two inflatable Zodiac boats to reach the endangered sailboat as 65-mph winds roiled the waters, smashing boats into kindling. Two people in their 80s and the 40-year-old owner were aboard the sailboat, KIII TV reported.

“Conditions were pretty rough, not going to lie, it was debatable, but the handicapped people on the boat were sending SOS using a flashlight and boats were literally ripping apart. I asked the rescue squad leader and boat operators if they felt comfortable. I got three thumbs up,” TX-TF1 Water Group Supervisor Kevin Deramus said, according to KIII.

Water rescues also were reported in Hidalgo County, and major flooding was experienced in Edinburg, McAllen, Mission, San Juan and Weslaco. 

Bob Hall Pier, a popular tourist spot on Padre Island, partially collapsed due to high waves and wind. 

Flooding left roads impassable in Mission, Texas. 

Heavy rain damaged a maternity hospital in a Mexican border town. 

As of Monday morning, 100,000 Texans were still without power.

As Hanna approached Texas on Saturday, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 32 South Texas counties. On Sunday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency authorized limited federal assistance in the form of reimbursement for mass care, including evacuation and shelter support at 75 percent federal funding. 

“We will continue to work with our federal and local partners as we assess the damage from Hurricane Hanna and may seek additional federal assistance as we continue to respond, recover and rebuild our communities,” said Abbott in announcing the federal assistance. “I continue to urge Texans to heed the guidance from their local leaders and follow best practices to keep themselves and their loved ones safe as severe weather continues to move through our communities.”

The storm, the first hurricane of the atlantic season, hit an area of Texas that is already overwhelmed by COVID-19.

What is left of Hanna is now bringing heavy rain and flooding to northeastern Mexico.