Looking Back at Beulah: Hurricane eye batters lower Valley areas

Editor’s Note: The following was published in the Sept. 21, 1967, edition of the San Benito News. The article covered the aftermath of Hurricane Beulah, the most disastrous storm in the Rio Grande Valley’s history.

By EDWIN HARVEY
San Benito News

Hurricane Beulah was blowing itself out Thursday as it headed across land. Shortly before noon, it was stationary about 41 miles north northwest of Rio Grande City. Hurricane warnings have been taken down and the highest winds were estimated at 60 m.p.h.

U.S. Sen. Ralph Yarborough announced $30,000,000 would be requested for emergency loans for the storm-struck Valley areas.

U.S. Rep. Kika de la Garza phoned Mayor Paco Betancourt Wednesday night and advised he would arrive here Friday for a personal inspection of the damaged area.

National Guardsmen were guarding the highways to Port Isabel and were letting only emergency vehicles through on Thursday. Officials advised residents to check radio announcements for a time when they would be allowed to return for the cleanup.

Hurricane Beulah roared through San Benito and the South Texas Gulf Coast area Wednesday leaving a path of destruction observers estimated second only to the 1933 hurricane.

Not a single Valley community escaped the wrath of the destructive storm which snapped power lines and poles ripped off big limbs and uprooted trees like a giant unseen elephant and smashed windows in stores and homes.

Sections of many Valley towns were left without power and telephone service and some even were without water supplies for hours.

Typical of hurricanes, Beulah did not follow her predicted path and turn north up the edge of the Gulf coast after touching land near the mouth of the Rio Grande River–she continued a northwesterly track heading inland for Falfurrias and Alice.

Residents of Los Fresnos, San Benito, and other mid-Cameron communities were startled Wednesday when the northeasterly winds gusting up to 140 m.p.h. almost died down, then about two hours later reversed themselves and battered the area from the southwest.

This meant that the “eye” has passed over these areas instead of going north along the Gulf Coast as earlier atmospheric conditions had indicated.

But through it all, there were no reports of deaths or serious injuries locally.

San Benitans and Valleyites had prepared well–as well as anyone could get braced for a “killer” hurricane.

But this didn’t lessen the impact of the disastrous loss of the Valley’s multi-million-dollar citrus crop, and the destruction of residential, commercial, and industrial property.

As Beulah passed over the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and headed directly for the Texas Gulf Coast, all law enforcement and disaster agencies went on a 24-hour alert. By early Tuesday, buildings which could be used as shelters had been designated and radio and TV stations were broadcasting the lists.

Although the shelters were not prepared to receive refugees until 4 p.m. Tuesday, a large number of persons were on hand well before noon.

Early comers in San Benito were housed in the Post Office Building and the Aztec Bldg. Later, the high school, Fred Booth, and Frank Roberts schools opened. Churches also opened their doors as a real sanctuary and one of San Benito’s landmarks, the Irrigation Building, proved a safe place for many employees their family and friends.

San Benitans followed the advice of public officials and remained in shelters or homes during the worst of the storm.

Once they could get out, many found their cars impossible to start because of wet wires. Those who had transportation had to pick their way through the streets and go around huge fallen trees, limbs, and utility lines.

(Enroute to work in the wee hours Thursday, this writer found Rose Street blocked by fallen trees and had to drive up onto the CP&L park with one wheel in order to pass. With electric power off, since about 4 a.m. Wednesday, the cordless razor acquired for summer camping came in handy.)

Volunteers as well as regular public officials went for hours without sleep or rest and in many cases with little food except coffee and light sandwiches.

Among these were County Civil Defense Director Bud Bohner, who began his round-the-clock vigil Monday night in his office at the City Hall. He was assisted by Francis Vaughn.

San Benito’s stalwart Police Chief Pat Cortez remained on duty throughout the crucial period, and his men took only short breaks. Only complaint was not of work, fatigue, or lack of food but “how to keep the eyes open.”

Brownsville, Port Isabel, and Padre Island suffered the heaviest damage. Early indications were that even though San Benito and Harlingen were in the eye of the hurricane, wind damage was heavier in the fringe areas of Mercedes, Weslaco, Pharr, and McAllen.

It will be several days before accurate estimates of damage can be made, but most public officials estimated 80 to 90 per cent of the homes, public and commercial buildings in Port Isabel severely damaged. The seaport city and South Padre Island were evacuated Tuesday afternoon, and even civil defense officials were unable to get into the area Wednesday.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner John White said if early estimates are borne out, citrus crop damage may hit $50,000,000. He said spot checks showed that 80 to 90 per cent of the current orange and grapefruit crop had been blown off the trees, and that about half the trees themselves had been blown down. Picking of the new crop has just begun.

U.S. Sen. Ralph Yarborough said he would ask for an additional $50,000,000 amendment on the current disaster appropriation bill which would provide $30,000,000 in disaster relief and emergency loans. All areas hit by Hurricane Beulah are expected to be eligible for the aid.

Although Hurricane Beulah’s winds were gone Thursday, the entire Valley was isolated from upstate by flooded highways.

Numerous shrimp boats broke loose at Rio Hondo and jammed up against the bridge over the Arroyo Colorado. One boat was reported sunk underneath the bridge. Winds were estimated at 100 m.p.h.

A Port Isabel shrimper fleet owner said he lost several boats with loss estimated at $150,000.

Ken Medders of the San Benito airport estimated that the first winds gusted up to 140 miles and after the eye passed and the winds reversed direction, they were at least 125 m.p.h.

Damage to San Benito schools was not heavy, but roof leaks and broken windows were expected to take several hours to repair once weather permits. Crews will work day and night and on the weekend to plan for re-opening San Benito schools at the regular time Monday.

Although the hurricane left San Benito Wednesday, a new danger threatened–flooding–as the accompanying rain continued to pour, even all morning Thursday. Many low-lying areas were expected to be evacuated and soon would be inaccessible by car.

Rainfall from Monday through Wednesday totaled some eight inches, and the Thursday steady downpour was expected to raise the measure to well over 10 inches.

City Manager Henry Harvill said the San Benito water supply was off only a couple of hours Wednesday afternoon due to a power failure. He estimated street crews would have debris gathered from all streets by the end of Thursday. However, since trucks cannot get to the city dump, it may be some time before the brush can be hauled off and it will be stacked on the curb.

He asked housewives to place garbage cans in front of their homes until alleys dry up.

A telephone company spokesman said an estimated 25 per cent of major cables and drop wires which feed residential areas was damaged. He said work crews were restoring service in each area and completing work there before moving to other sections.

The continuing rain is delaying repairs since heavy equipment necessary for some repairs can’t get into the alleys where poles or lines are broken. For the most part, he predicted San Benito and Rio Hondo service would be restored by early Friday.

Officials estimated about 1,000 persons were housed at Fred Booth School, 250 at Frank Roberts, and 700 at the high school.

San Benitans had heavy damage, but still were thankful it wasn’t worse.

Port Isabel looked like a war-scarred city Thursday morning after the hurricane left her mark. The city is like an armed camp where the National Guard is on patrol. Power lines were down and across most of the streets, some business buildings were completely destroyed and not many escaped some damage. Homes were damaged, glass was broken, and all streets were littered with the debris.

The Y Food Market was completely wrecked as was some of the gas stations. The High School gym was destroyed, and most of the buildings had glass out and many of the walls were blown in.