Harlingen declares disaster after unprecedented rainfall; city and volunteers conduct more than 1,000 rescues

Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda declared a state of disaster March 26 after an intense rainfall event that, officials said, dumped as much as 16–22 inches in parts of the city and left entire neighborhoods under water. The declaration followed a multi-agency emergency response that included municipal fire and police departments, Harlingen Public Works, Texas Department of Public Safety, Border Patrol and mutual-aid strike teams brought in from other counties.

The mayor told the commission that local crews and mutual-aid partners conducted an "astonishing number of 1,041 rescues" from Thursday night through the early morning response and established an emergency shelter at the Harlingen Convention Center. "As of this morning, I've declared a state of disaster for the city of Harlingen," Sepulveda said during the meeting. City staff reported continuous rescue and recovery operations between the onset of heavy rain and the end of emergency calls Saturday morning.

Why it matters: commissioners said the storm exposed both the strengths of Harlingen's emergency response and long-standing deficiencies in drainage infrastructure. Several citizens who lost property urged more aggressive investment or use of existing funds to reduce future flood risk.

What the city and partners did: Harlingen public works crews and first responders worked around the clock; the convention center opened as a shelter and served meals. Sister Norma and volunteers coordinated with World Central Kitchen to provide what the mayor described as roughly 2,000 meals per day at the shelter. The Red Cross, Salvation Army and other nonprofit and faith-based groups provided supplies and shelter operations. City Manager Gabe Gonzales and Public Works Director Christopher Torres were among officials credited for mobilizing staff and resources.

Citizens pressed drainage and recovery questions: During citizen communications, four residents described severe, recurring flooding on their streets. Nurse practitioner Alice Becerra described repeated inundation at her White Oak Drive home since 2018 and said last week’s flood left about 9–13 inches of water inside her house and sewer backflow in bathrooms; she asked the commission to prioritize fixes for her neighborhood. Resident Raymond Reyes and developer and commenter Robert Lethwich pressed the commission to consider tapping municipal reserve funds and other local sources while waiting for federal assistance such as FEMA. Israel Aguilar and other members of the Rio Grande Valley Coalition of Drainage Advocates urged the commission to pause approval of new subdivisions until regional drainage solutions are in place.

City steps and direction: Sepulveda said the city had notified the governor’s office and was coordinating with state emergency management to request additional resources. City staff described continuing assessment of damaged vehicles and municipal equipment; South Texas Emergency Care Foundation (Harlingen EMS) reported damage to ambulances and temporary deployments of strike teams to support ambulance coverage.

Questions and next steps: Commissioners and staff discussed practical next steps — ensuring sheltering and food operations continue while survivors assess damage, inventorying municipal equipment losses and coordinating with TxDOT, county emergency management and affected adjacent jurisdictions on retention-pond and right-of-way drainage. Multiple commenters asked the commission to re-evaluate the use of local economic-development and park funds for drainage projects and to consider escrow or guaranty mechanisms to ensure privately held detention basins are constructed and maintained.

Ending: Commissioners commended first responders, volunteers and partner organizations for rescue and shelter operations and directed staff to continue coordination with state and federal emergency-management officials while compiling needs for recovery funding and infrastructure fixes.