Aftermath and records Hurricane Alex (2010)

1 aftermath , records

1.1 government response
1.2 infrastructure
1.3 economic , environmental effects
1.4 meteorological records

aftermath , records
government response

following storm s final landfall, mexico s secretariat of national defense deployed 800 troops nuevo león , tamaulipas under plan dn-iii-e aid operations. troops enforced mandatory evacuations of 3,337 residents of san fernando , soto la marina in tamaulipas. throughout nuevo león, 60,000 people evacuated homes. in tamaulipas, 263,000 people affected hurricane alex, , 2,260 homes flooded. in coahuila, 80,000 affected alex s remnants, leaving 30% of municipalities of state without communication outside world. 20,000 considered total losses, of them in sabinas. approximately 500,000 people affected floods throughout northeastern mexico.

the secretaría de gobernación declared state of emergency in 21 of nuevo león s 51 municipalities, freeing federal disaster funds use in aid operations. additional 10 municipalities placed under state of emergency on july 8. similar declaration made 8 municipalities in oaxaca, , 14 municipalities in tamaulipas; state of emergency in tamaulipas later expanded 30 municipalities. mexican president felipe calderón requested adding resources federal disaster fund, $3 billion (2010 mxn; $235 million usd) held not sufficient face damage in coahuila, nuevo león , tamaulipas. in months following storm, total of $4.8 billion (2010 mxn; $375 million usd) released federal , state governments aid in reconstruction of disaster areas in nuevo león , tamaulipas. in texas, governor rick perry activated state s search , rescue capabilities in laredo , san antonio. activation due flooding on rio grande valley, expected worsen due approach of tropical depression 2 area affected alex.

even after dissipation, alex continued causing deaths throughout mexico, particularly due flooding. 1 death reported in tamaulipas , 1 in san luis potosí; 6 reported have died in guanajuato result of alex. in coahuila, 8 people died after plane crashed while surveying water discharges dams in state; coahuila secretary of public works , municipal president of piedras negras among victims.

infrastructure

the storm caused severe devastation in nuevo león, , in particular throughout monterrey metropolitan area. state governor rodrigo medina de la cruz noted city of monterrey had collapsed due worst weather phenomenon in history. in municipality of santa catarina alone, 50,000 people affected, property damage being estimated @ $1.2 billion (2010 mxn; 93.5 million usd). residents 3 colonias in garcía had permanently relocated 800 homes destroyed; storm caused $900 million (2010 mxn; 70 million usd) in damage in municipality. flooding santa catarina river destroyed 4 bridges in monterrey; @ least 60 bridges damaged statewide. governor medina announced on july 3 allocation of $1.4 billion (2010 mxn; $107 million usd) repairs monterrey s arterial streets. municipalities in metropolitan area used contraflow during part of day re-establish traffic in sections arterial streets bordering santa catarina river damaged in 1 direction. repairs monterrey s main roadways estimated take 3 months complete.

railway traffic throughout state paralyzed, train bridges collapsed, , extensive damage found in track ballast in multiple rail lines. kansas city southern railway reported expected net loss of 5 cents per share on annual earnings due stoppage affecting mexican subsidiary. company later reported drop of $33 million (2010 usd) in revenue due hurricane damage. damage railway infrastructure caused automotive part shortages throughout north america. general motors forced cancel shifts @ plants in michigan, missouri , kansas. ford idled production in oakville, ontario assembly plant, , suffered two-week delays in u.s. deliveries of fiesta model due rail track damage. damage road system paralyzed route used 40% of trade between united states , mexico, 22,000 trucks stalled after damage nuevo laredo–monterrey highway.

alex destroyed potable water infrastructure in portions of nuevo león, causing widespread shortages of water. damage water infrastructure described being of unexpected magnitude, 160,000 left without water week after storm made landfall. standing water left following rainfall caused concern of outbreaks of various diseases, including cholera. consequently, population warned boil or otherwise disinfect water prevent disease. in areas storm s impact made difficult boil water due unavailability of gas or stoves, 70,000 jars colloidal silver distributed. additionally, laboratory testing of refuse coming individuals gastrointestinary illnesses commenced precaution identify outbreaks of cholera , other diseases, , on 82,000 vaccines applied throughout region. following storm s passage, profeco announced fines of $2.5 million (2010 mxn; $191,000 usd) merchants guilty of price gouging when selling bottled water. occurred after agency received complaints of 1500% markups when compared bottled water s pre-storm price. on july 7, agency announced had applied sanctions 20 businesses found overcharging bottled water.

economic , environmental effects

according estimates mexican secretariat of agriculture, livestock, rural development, fisheries , food (sagarpa), 504,000 acres (203,800 ha) of farmland damaged result alex in northeastern mexico, corresponding 11% of total farmland in tamaulipas, nuevo león , coahuila. of agricultural damage occurred in tamaulipas, 270,000 acres (110,000 ha) of sorghum , 200,000 acres (80,000 ha) of maize damaged, corresponding 15.6% of entirety of state s farmland, , 76% of state s maize crop; 1,700 acres (700 ha) of grapefruit , limes damaged, corresponding 15% of state s citrus production. 2 thousand heads of cattle lost in nuevo laredo. in nuevo león , coahuila, of damage animal husbandry; in nuevo león, 3,645 heads of cattle, 3,580 goats, 7,265 sheep , 194 horses lost, while in coahuila, 3,709 goats, 258 cattle , 56 sheep killed.

the storm affected commerce throughout region. mexican secretariat of economy calculated alex affected 2,500 small , medium enterprises in nuevo león, 500 in tamaulipas, , 500–700 in coahuila. in monterrey, local chapter of confederation of national chambers of commerce reported in first 2 days after hurricane alex affected city, businesses in city lost $750 million (2010 mxn; 58 million usd). overall, lost business due alex expected total $2 billion (2010 mxn; 156 million usd).

as floodwaters receded pesquería river in escobedo, nuevo león, remnants of 15,000-year-old mammoth discovered local residents. believed remains carried state of coahuila escobedo floodwaters. remnants identified , dated personnel instituto nacional de antropología e historia.

meteorological records

alex first atlantic hurricane in month of june since hurricane allison in 1995, , strongest in terms of wind speed since hurricane alma in 1966. barometric pressure recording of 946 mbar (27.96 inches) intense atlantic hurricane in june, although hurricane audrey in 1957 ties intensity. alex tied intense june atlantic hurricane on record overall. however, audrey s pressure estimated, audrey s actual pressure might low 925 mbar.