Western Gulf Coast Hurricane Alex (2010)

members of texas air national guard preparing alex

as alex neared hurricane strength on evening of june 28, hurricane warning issued coast of texas south of baffin bay mouth of rio grande. mexican government issued hurricane warning rio grande south la cruz. tropical storm warning posted coastal texas baffin bay northward port o connor. governor of texas rick perry declared state of disaster in 19 counties , ordered deployment of texas military forces personnel (including 80 citizen-soldiers of texas state guard medical brigade) rio grande valley. president barack obama declared state of emergency, freeing federal funds 25 counties in texas.

on june 29, authorities began evacuations of residents of coastal areas in tamaulipas municipalities of soto la marina, matamoros , san fernando municipalities. on june 30, state s civil defense agency , education secretary announced schools closed throughout state during storm. thirteen shelters opened in reynosa, twenty-two in matamoros, , ten in san fernando; total of 3,000 people sought protection storm in 3 municipalities. throughout state, 20,000 people asked evacuate safer areas. nuevo león schools ordered closed @ least 24 hours; universidad regiomontana, universidad de monterrey , universidad autónoma de nuevo león followed suit. in monterrey, mandatory evacuations alongside santa catarina river ordered, evacuation of 5,000 families in highlands of city. throughout state, total of 90 shelters opened. coahuila did not close schools, expecting alex reach state tropical depression or weaker, asked schools not take attendance.

prior alex making landfall, brownsville, texas national weather service issued flood watch southernmost region of state. storm expected produce heavy rainfall 18 hours, had potential cause significant flooding in poor drainage areas, flooded hurricane dolly in 2008. officials opened hurricane shelters, , voluntary evacuations put place south padre island; @ least 1,000 people sought shelter in cameron , hidalgo counties.