Photo: Laredo Morning Tmes
Laredo city officials petitioned the federal government for disaster relief, and the Rio Grande waters reached bridge level at Puente de las Americas, International Bridge 1, making it the worst flood in 56 years, since the 1954 flood that reached two blocks from downtown Laredo.
By H. Nelson Goodson
July 7, 2010
Updated July 8, 2010
Laredo, Texas -On Wednesday, the Laredo Morning Times reported 'Puente de las Americas' International Bridge 1 connecting Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico border closed at 11:00 a.m. to rising Rio Grande (Rio Bravo, known in Mexico) flood waters and continuous rain caused by the aftermath of Hurricane Alex.
The Meadow Ave. bridge connecting to the Chacón neighborhood was closed for safety precautions as the Chacón Creek water overflow reached street level. In other City of Laredo areas and Webb County, residents reported at least two feet of water in their living rooms, while city officials are doing nothing, according to flood effected residents.
City of Laredo spokesperson, Xochitl Mora said, Bridge one will remain close as flood waters are expected to rise 45 feet, reaching over the bridge by Thursday.
On Thursday local officials, Laredo Mayor Raúl Salinas along with U.S. Respresetative Henry Cuellar had petitioned the federal government for disaster relief for areas in Webb County. The flooded areas and neigborhoods effected were identified by Mayor Salinas as Qauil Creek at Mines Road, Santa Rita, the Cheyenne subdivision on County road 359, Masterson road and the vacinity of the Chacón Creek.
An estimated 11,000 people walk across and 13,000 vehicles come through daily using International Bridge 1. The two other bridges Juarez-Lincoln Bridge 2, and the World Trade Bridge 4 in Laredo will remain open, Mora said.
Nuevo Laredo officials estimated losing at least $1 million pesos (about $77,000 U.S.) per day the bridge is closed. Numerous neighborhoods, farms and roads in Nuevo Laredo were flooded by the Rio Bravo, according to local officials.
Another bridge was closed about 20 miles upriver, the Colombia Bridge 3 was closed due to rising Rio Grande waters, Laredo city officials confirmed.
Flood waters of the Rio Grande along the 200 mile stretch upriver has damaged tens of thousands homes and has left more than 40,000 people in the State of Coahuila without a place to stay, according to Humberto Moreira Coahuila Governor.
On Wednesday, Piedras Negras Mayor Jose Manuel Maldonado, Horacio Del Bosque, Director of Public Works, a pilot and three other people died in a small engine plane crash 25 miles from Eagle Pass, while inspecting flood waters in the Rio Grande.
Another storm is expected to hit the area.
Brief flood history in Laredo, the worst flood recorded was in 1932 because it claimed 18 lives. Margarita Araiza, Executive Director for the Webb County Heritage Foundation provided the following information concerning recorded floods in Laredo. Araiza says, in the flood of 1865, the river reached the steps of San Augustine Church; in 1932, the flood claimed 18 lives making the worst ever recorded due to the lost of life; in 1954, the river rose and reached to several blocks from downtown Laredo and up the creeks; and the last major flood was in 1998, when water was released from the Amistad Dam to relief pressure. The dam was built that same year.
Last Thursday's flood was the worst in 56 years, since the 1954 flood.
Photos: El Mañana
Chacón Creek overflow closed Meadow Ave. and other roads near the Rio Grande river. Youtube http://bit.ly/9gfOWY
On Thursday, for the first time in history at 4:00 p.m. the Rio Grande (Rio Bravo) river reached to the top of the Laredo, Texas-Nuevo Laredo, Mexico International Bridge 1 "Puente de las Americas" Youtube link: http://bit.ly/cgX6xn
Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile
The Guadalupe Street Bridge that connects to downtown Laredo shows water rising at 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. Photo by Betty Gonzalez
Laredo city officials petitioned the federal government for disaster relief, and the Rio Grande waters reached bridge level at Puente de las Americas, International Bridge 1, making it the worst flood in 56 years, since the 1954 flood that reached two blocks from downtown Laredo.
By H. Nelson Goodson
July 7, 2010
Updated July 8, 2010
Laredo, Texas -On Wednesday, the Laredo Morning Times reported 'Puente de las Americas' International Bridge 1 connecting Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico border closed at 11:00 a.m. to rising Rio Grande (Rio Bravo, known in Mexico) flood waters and continuous rain caused by the aftermath of Hurricane Alex.
The Meadow Ave. bridge connecting to the Chacón neighborhood was closed for safety precautions as the Chacón Creek water overflow reached street level. In other City of Laredo areas and Webb County, residents reported at least two feet of water in their living rooms, while city officials are doing nothing, according to flood effected residents.
City of Laredo spokesperson, Xochitl Mora said, Bridge one will remain close as flood waters are expected to rise 45 feet, reaching over the bridge by Thursday.
On Thursday local officials, Laredo Mayor Raúl Salinas along with U.S. Respresetative Henry Cuellar had petitioned the federal government for disaster relief for areas in Webb County. The flooded areas and neigborhoods effected were identified by Mayor Salinas as Qauil Creek at Mines Road, Santa Rita, the Cheyenne subdivision on County road 359, Masterson road and the vacinity of the Chacón Creek.
An estimated 11,000 people walk across and 13,000 vehicles come through daily using International Bridge 1. The two other bridges Juarez-Lincoln Bridge 2, and the World Trade Bridge 4 in Laredo will remain open, Mora said.
Nuevo Laredo officials estimated losing at least $1 million pesos (about $77,000 U.S.) per day the bridge is closed. Numerous neighborhoods, farms and roads in Nuevo Laredo were flooded by the Rio Bravo, according to local officials.
Another bridge was closed about 20 miles upriver, the Colombia Bridge 3 was closed due to rising Rio Grande waters, Laredo city officials confirmed.
Flood waters of the Rio Grande along the 200 mile stretch upriver has damaged tens of thousands homes and has left more than 40,000 people in the State of Coahuila without a place to stay, according to Humberto Moreira Coahuila Governor.
On Wednesday, Piedras Negras Mayor Jose Manuel Maldonado, Horacio Del Bosque, Director of Public Works, a pilot and three other people died in a small engine plane crash 25 miles from Eagle Pass, while inspecting flood waters in the Rio Grande.
Another storm is expected to hit the area.
Brief flood history in Laredo, the worst flood recorded was in 1932 because it claimed 18 lives. Margarita Araiza, Executive Director for the Webb County Heritage Foundation provided the following information concerning recorded floods in Laredo. Araiza says, in the flood of 1865, the river reached the steps of San Augustine Church; in 1932, the flood claimed 18 lives making the worst ever recorded due to the lost of life; in 1954, the river rose and reached to several blocks from downtown Laredo and up the creeks; and the last major flood was in 1998, when water was released from the Amistad Dam to relief pressure. The dam was built that same year.
Last Thursday's flood was the worst in 56 years, since the 1954 flood.
Photos: El Mañana
Chacón Creek overflow closed Meadow Ave. and other roads near the Rio Grande river. Youtube http://bit.ly/9gfOWY
On Thursday, for the first time in history at 4:00 p.m. the Rio Grande (Rio Bravo) river reached to the top of the Laredo, Texas-Nuevo Laredo, Mexico International Bridge 1 "Puente de las Americas" Youtube link: http://bit.ly/cgX6xn
Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile
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