This snapshot of a foreboding San Benito sky indicates the calm before the storm Friday, in this case Tropical Storm Don which was expected to make landfall Friday evening. (Staff photo by Michael Rodriguez)
By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com
Officials with the City of San Benito announced Friday that they do not plan to issue sandbags in the event of Tropical Storm Don making landfall in the Rio Grande Valley.
As of presstime Friday, Tropical Storm Don was 120 miles east-northeast of Brownsville and traveling at 15 mph. National Weather Service Meteorologist Tim Speece said the storm is moving in a west-northwestwardly direction. Furthermore, Speece said the storm was expected to make landfall in Kenedy County sometime between 5-7 p.m. At the time it sustained winds of 50 mph.
“Right now, what we are looking at as far as rainfall is two to four inches over most of deep south Texas, and there could be isolated areas receiving up to five to seven inches of rainfall,” Speece said.
“Right now on radar, we’re seeing a wide-spread area of hard to heavy rainfall within about 20 miles of coastline. We haven’t had much rainfall so far, but showers will be springing up here and there,” he added.
Much of the rainfall may come once the center of Don approaches the area. “That’s what we’re anticipating,” Speece said. ”Once it moves closer to coastline and gets inland, we’ll see pretty dramatic increase of rainfall and persisting into the night into early tomorrow morning.”
In the meantime, Cameron County Emergency Management officials have released the following locations in which sandbags are being issued to residents:
• Precinct 1 & 2: 3243 E. 14th St. (Brownsville)
• Precinct 3: Intersection of FM 510 & San Jose Ranch Rd. (San Benito)
• Precinct 4: 201 N. Teague St. (Harlingen)
To report emergencies, call the San Benito Police Department at (956) 361-3880. AEP Texas also encourages residents to call (866) 223-8508 to report a fallen power line or utility pole.
Visit www.sbnewspaper.com for late breaking developments.
TS Don forecast cone
AEP: Prepare for power outages
Special to the NEWS
The AEP Texas Emergency Management Organization is continuing to monitor Tropical Storm Don and plan for its potential impacts within the company’s service area in south Texas.
Even though the storm is not expected to gain hurricane strength, the effects of high winds and heavy rains could still disrupt power along the lower Texas Gulf Coast.
AEP Texas during the last few days has been preparing for the possibility that the storm might strike its service area that extends from Port Isabel to Matagorda, Texas. These efforts included reviewing the company’s hurricane preparedness plan and determining what resources are needed to restore power in a safe and timely manner.
The company’s storm coordinator has arranged for crews from throughout AEP Texas as contract crews and neighboring utilities to provide assistance if its electric system sustains extensive damage.
To report a fallen power line or utility pole, call 1-866-223-8508. All power lines should be considered energized and dangerous. Because of the likelihood that the storm will cause many lines to fall, customers are asked to keep their children and pets inside during and after the storm.
“We hope that the storm will have minimal effects to our service area,” said David Hooper, AEP Texas vice president of electric distribution. “However, we are monitoring the storm closely to ensure that we will be ready if it storm impacts us.”
To see these stories in print, pick up a copy of the July 31 edition of the San Benito News. Or view our E-Edition by clicking here.
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