At 2 a.m. on Friday, Rick Saldaña was driving back to Edinburg from Mercedes when disaster struck. The roads were flooded, and the frontage roads leading to the expressway looked like lakes. Many cars were abandoned as drivers found themselves unable to continue.
The heavy rain kept pouring down, and winds reached speeds of about 60 miles per hour. Visibility was nearly impossible. "It came with a vengeance," Saldaña said, reflecting on the storm’s intensity. As the emergency management coordinator for Hidalgo County, he was already aware that the area was facing a long recovery ahead.
The storm had tragic consequences. At least six people lost their lives—four drowned in the Valley and in Reynosa, Mexico, while two others died in a house fire likely caused by a lightning strike. Hundreds of individuals needed rescue from their flooded homes or cars. By Monday, three days after the storm, many neighborhoods remained underwater.
Governor Greg Abbott declared a disaster for four counties in the Valley as damage assessments began. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) arrived to evaluate the situation. Preliminary estimates put the damage and recovery costs at over $100 million, according to the National Weather Service in Brownsville.
Saldaña noted that forecasts had predicted only one to two inches of rain. "For whatever reason, it shifted," he explained. The storm surprised everyone, especially since big storms often hit the Rio Grande Valley around this time of year. Saldaña recalled a similar storm in 2018 and pointed out that such sudden downpours leave little time for preparation.
Despite improvements to the drainage system in recent years, the storm produced what Saldaña described as a "100-year flood." The drainage could not handle the sheer volume of water. Between March 26 and 28, the Valley received nearly 20 inches of rain, breaking previous records and rivaling the all-time two-day record set by Hurricane Beulah in 1967.
Meteorologists were aware of the incoming rain, but the storm’s path shifted unexpectedly. Initially, it was expected to impact other regions, but within 12 hours, it became clear that the Valley was in the storm’s crosshairs. Even then, the exact areas that would be hit hard were uncertain until the storm was already underway.
Cameron County was particularly hard-hit, with significant damage reported. The Valley International Airport in Harlingen had to close due to flooded runways. The storm also spawned a tornado that briefly touched down in Hidalgo County.
Farmers faced severe challenges as well. While they had hoped for rain to alleviate drought conditions, the flooding likely destroyed many existing crops. "Poor farmers, they’re taking a beating," said Sonny Hinojosa, a water advocate with the Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 2. The flooding drowned crops that were already growing.
On a slightly brighter note, the Falcon International Reservoir received substantial water from the storm, increasing its capacity from 11.2% to 12.8%. While this was a small gain, it could provide some irrigation relief for farmers in the coming weeks.
As the community begins to recover from this devastating storm, the focus will be on rebuilding and preparing for future weather events. The effects of this storm will be felt for some time, as residents and officials work together to restore normalcy in the Valley.