Water Rescues Continue in South Texas After Hanna Departs; Flooding Turns Deadly in Mexico

Much of northeastern Mexico and southeastern Texas on Monday were still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Hanna, which left at least four people dead and four missing in Mexico.

Now a tropical depression, the storm's surge slammed into Texas's barrier islands on Saturday as a Category 1 hurricane. Overnight and all day Sunday, wind and heavy rain caused problems throughout the Rio Grande Valley and into Mexico, especially the states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas.

Here is a look at the storm's impacts.

Texas

The McAllen Fire Department continued to rescue people stranded by floodwaters on Monday. A flood warning was in effect for southern Hidalgo County and western Cameron County until 12:30 p.m. CDT.

The Hidalgo County Courthouse and all county offices were closed Monday because of flooding and power outages, according to Valley Central.

More than 120,000 homes and businesses remained without power on Monday morning, according to poweroutage.us.

Padre Island National Seashore sustained damage on both sides of the island and will remain closed until further notice, according to a post on the park's Facebook page.

Hanna's storm surge inundated Corpus Christi's North Beach area and topped the seawall in other parts of downtown.

The Texas State Aquarium suffered minor damage when water got into the building, KIII-TV reported. All of the animals and fish at the aquarium were safe, a spokeswoman told the Corpus Christi Caller-Times on Monday. A dock where a research vessel was moored was destroyed.

Water also entered the lower level of the Art Museum of South Texas. The lower level houses classrooms and labs.

“We're dealing with around 3 inches of water, on our lower level,” the museum's marketing coordinator Kirby Tello told KRIS. “But all of our permanent collection is in the vault on our second level. And so, none of our artwork has been damaged.”

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At the city's Marina del Sol, boats sank and piers were beaten into kindling by the storm.

Three people had to be rescued from a sailboat sinking in Marina del Sol late Saturday, KIII reported. A water rescue team from Texas A&M Task Force 1 used two inflatable Zodiac boats to reach the endangered sailboat as 65 mph winds roiled the waters. Two people in their 80s and the 40-year-old owner were aboard the sailboat.

Gilbert Landin, another owner of a boat in the marina that escaped damage, told the Caller-Times, "We didn't think it was going to be this bad, but you just never know. It's one of those things where you think you're all prepared, but keep your fingers cross and it keeps you up at night. It's one of the many risks you take when you have a sailboat. I'm just glad we got lucky because there were others who had it a lot worse."

The Bob Hall Pier, one of the most popular features on Padre Island, lost its concrete walkway and its T-head in the storm surge.

Major flooding was also reported across the Rio Grande Valley.

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Water rescues were needed in Hidalgo County, Valley Central reported, and major flooding was reported in Edinburg, McAllen, Mission, San Juan and Weslaco.

Coahuila, Mexico

An 11-year-old girl saved herself by clinging to tree branches after the van she and nine other people were riding in was swept into a stream by floodwaters.

The van washed into the El Saucillo stream in Saltillo after the vehicle ran out of gas Sunday afternoon. Seven people, including a 9-month-old baby, managed to escape the van. However, Genesis Carolina, 11, Alexis, 7, and Cinthya Padilla Carolina, 35, couldn't get out, according to Vanguardia.

Eventually, Genesis managed to leave the van and grabbed onto tree limbs to keep the water from dragging her away. After the water went down, she walked more than half a mile to find help, according to Periódico Zócalo.

The bodies of the other girl and the woman were found Monday, Periódico Zócalo reported.

Altogether, about 25 vehicles were stranded by floods in Saltillo.

Members of the city's police department rescued a 35-year-old father and his 11-year-old son when their vehicle was dragged into a stream.

At least 15 homes were damaged and six neighborhoods were flooded, according to Codigo Rojo Noticias.

A stretch of Highway 57 in Coahuila was closed because of landslides triggered by Hanna, the Highway National Guard reported. It remained closed Monday.

Nuevo Leon, Mexico

An 11-year-old boy remained missing Monday morning after being swept away by floodwaters in San Nicolás de Los Garza in Nuevo Leon on Saturday, El Norte reported.

Authorities said at least 10 people had to be rescued from flooding in other cities across the state. About 150 families had to be evacuated from their homes.

The state government closed state offices on Monday and shut down public transportation.

Floodwaters flowed over bridges and shut down streets across the region. A sinkhole opened at an intersection in San Pedro Garza Garcia.

In Monterrey, the capital of Nuevo Leon, walls and roofs of various buildings were damaged, including Doctors Hospital, El Heraldo de Mexico reported. Accumulated water caused the roof of a shopping center to collapse. No one was injured, according to El Heraldo.

Tamaulipas, Mexico

Three boys clinging to a tree in Reynosa in Tamaulipas remained missing after being swept away by floodwaters, according to ABC Noticias.

Also in Reynosa, a 32-year-old woman, Ana María Rojas, drowned after falling during an epileptic seizure, according to El Heraldo de Mexico.

At least 50 neighborhoods in Reynosa were flooded and downed trees had knocked out electricity to many areas, HOYT.am reported.

Water flooded into an obstetrics hospital in Reynosa, which is just south of the border. El Universal reported that patients had to be moved from the emergency room and recovery rooms. A pump was brought in to get the water out of the hospital.

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