Reprint from the Progress Times - July 6, 2007
©Progress Times 2007 - All Rights Reserved

Lightning, rain storms pound Mission area

Mission Fire Department reports Mission received cumulative rainfall totaling from eight to 12 inches – depending on the area of the city – Tuesday and Wednesday, causing heavy street flooding in many parts of Mission.

Tuesday’s storm was a severe lightning storm accompanied by a heavy downpour of rain. Mission Fire Chief Rick Saldana said lightning strikes were reported in Mission, including one that took out the transformer behind Mission Nursing Home. The nursing home has emergency generators, so they were not without power. Repairs were made within two hours, providing normal power to the home.

Bert Ogden Cadillac experienced only intermittent power interruptions, but this did cause them to lose their Internet and telephone service Tuesday afternoon.

Six lightning strikes to residences were reported throughout the city. However, the lightning strikes did not cause any fires.

City crews were out in force Tuesday and Wednesday doing what they could to minimize flooding damage and to ensure the safety of residents.

Public Works Administrator Julian Gonzalez, who was on the scene with city crews, said the city water plant received in excess of four inches of rain in about 45 minutes on Tuesday; then they recorded a similar amount on Wednesday, also in a very short interval.

When such a heavy amount of rain hits the area in such a brief time it puts a strain on the city’s drainage system, Gonzalez said. While the water drains off, many areas experience a temporary accumulation of water, causing localized flooding.

City crews are mobilized during such events to minimized damage and to protect the public safety by using pumps to remove water from low areas, provide sandbags, block off streets where necessary to prevent vehicles from flooding out, but also to prevent vehicles pushing wakes of water into people’s homes and businesses.

While several areas received some flooding during Tuesday’s storm, more extensive flooding occurred Wednesday when still heavier rains hit the area. "The area was strongly affected, more on Wednesday than Tuesday," said Chief Saldana.

Chief Saldana said the center of town east of Holland was the most affected, but flooding occurred in several areas, including Bryan Road, Stewart Road, Conway and FM 495 and along Kika de la Garza Loop. Street flooding occurred at Conway and Business 83, which is always a flood-prone spot, as is the area South of 2nd Street east of Conway.

Most of the flooding was street flooding with very few residents reporting floodwater in their homes.

The forecast as of presstime (Thursday morning) called for more rain to move into the area from the southwest. The National Weather Service forecast called for an 80 percent chance of rain with widespread rainfall of one to three inches and locally higher rainfall of four to six inches.

Residents are advised to call the Central Fire Station at 580-8705 for questions or concerns about flooding or to request evacuation assistance. For life-threatening emergencies residents should call 911.

The city, in conjunction with Hidalgo County Precinct 3 is making sand bags available to Mission residents at the Precinct 3 Warehouse, located at 13th Street and Kika de la Garza Loop (Slabaugh).