Freak storm rips through area

NEWS Staff Report

Area residents were caught by surprise late Saturday morning when a “wet microburst” hit the vicinity, producing gale-force winds and up to an inch of rain in some areas, causing structural damage and at least three reported injuries.

By early Saturday afternoon, Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr., held a press conference at the San Benito Police Department. The greater San Benito area is believed to be among the hardest-hit, especially the unincorporated Green Valley Farms area, where infrastructure is limited, and building codes have historically been lax.

“On Saturday, May 9, 2026, Cameron County experienced severe weather, including wind gusts exceeding 70 miles per hour,” according to Treviño. These conditions damaged roads and homes along US 281 (Military Highway) and in the Green Valley Farms area.

“As a result, power lines were knocked down, partially obstructing the roadway,” he continued. There were also reports of injuries and damage to several homes in the affected area.

“Cameron County Emergency Management is responding, assessing the full extent of the damage, and coordinating with local municipalities to identify affected areas,” he said.

“Residents are urged to exercise caution, avoid the affected area, and remain alert for road closures and hazards such as debris and downed utility lines,” he added.

AEP worked to remove downed power lines in the affected areas and recommended avoiding FM 510, FM 803, and the route from Green Valley Farms south to FM 2893.

County officials confirmed that at least three individuals were injured and transported to local hospitals for treatment as a result of the weather event.

AEP Texas officials reported that approximately 7,724 customers were affected by outages, while Magic Valley Electric Cooperative representatives reported that approximately 3,700 of their customers are currently affected. Brownsville PUB officials said approximately 10,000 of their customers were affected by the event.

At least three locations are currently identified as affected, with damage reported to homes, businesses, and vehicles. Additional assessments are ongoing.

Iglesia Vino Nuevo Para Las Naciones, located at 2691 Business 77, San Benito, offered shelter assistance and aid along with the Salvation Army of the Rio Grande Valley and the Red Cross, among others.

Residents are encouraged to report storm-related damage via the Texas Division of Emergency Management Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) Damage Surveys at damage.tdem.texas.gov.

Through Tuesday, May 19, Cameron County Public Works is conducting debris pickup for residents affected by the severe storm. Due to the high-intensity winds that morning, residents in the Green Valley Farms area can dispose of storm-related debris through this special collection effort.

Residents are asked to separate debris into the following two categories eligible for pickup: vegetative Debris – vegetation, tree limbs, branches, plants, and tree logs (not bagged); construction and Building Debris – building materials, carpet, drywall, furniture, lumber, plumbing materials, gypsum, glass, wallboard, metal, tile, floor and window coverings, and pipes.

Please note that Cameron County Public Works will not collect normal household garbage or recyclable materials. Residents should continue using their regular trash collection services for those items.

To ensure pickup, all storm debris must be placed along the roadway edge within the public right-of-way.

Do not place debris in roadside ditches or in areas that may obstruct drainage. Debris on private property will not be collected.

Residents are also asked to keep debris clear of trees, poles, mailboxes, fire hydrants, utility boxes, and other obstructions, and to avoid placing materials directly in the roadway.

Cameron County Public Works encourages residents to place debris along the street as early as possible to help ensure timely collection. Public Works crews plan to complete up to three collection cycles throughout the affected area to collect as much debris as possible.

For additional information or questions, call the Cameron County Precinct 3 Warehouse at (956) 361-8222.

San Benito residents are being asked to place debris along their residential right-of-way and call (956) 392-7003 to schedule pickup.