Dolly Rocks Lower Rio Grande Valley

Driving through the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas on the morning of Wednesday, July 23, it was clearly apparent that people were prepared. Windows were boarded, sandbags were laid out, cars pulled into garages or under carports, and neighborhoods seemed empty without the residents who evacuated. Unfortunately no one was prepared for what they woke up to Thursday morning.

Damages from Hurricane Dolly's winds included many roofs being torn from their homes and an estimated one million people left without electricity. But the worst damage came when the flood waters rose.

Being an agriculture region, irrigation canals cover the span of the Rio Grande Valley. Unfortunately these canals were not prepared for the 25 inches of rain dumped upon them in the 24 hour period. While low lying areas quickly filled with water, the worst came when several canals over flowed and breached their banks late Thursday night.

Entire towns were filled with waist high contaminated water. People had to flee their homes in droves.

As the days stretch on, no relief comes. After 5 days, the water has yet to recede and the foul odors grow stronger. The governmental support many looked to has been denied. While FEMA is present, they render aid only to the cities and counties in the covering of expenses from hurricane preparation. Local individuals are left to fend for themselves.

Emotions grow weary as families return home to find they have lost everything. Their possessions were ripped away by the wind and water, their jobs washed away in the rain. The expenses increase each day as the water sits in their houses, their neighborhoods, and their towns.

While most have gotten their electricity back, this only serves as an aid in helping them pump the gallons of water from houses and yards. Hardware stores' shelves are emptied of cleaning supplies and mosquito zappers.

And despite the fact that the toll of Hurricane Dolly is far from over, the rest of the nation moves forward, forgetting the tragedy and finding more exciting news to focus on. The media's disinterested attitude has proved disheartening for the community.

Locals are left questioning if racial discrimination plays a role in the nations reaction, or lack thereof. The Rio Grande Valley, being comprised of 98% Mexican-Americans, often gets treated with a lower standard than other regions. Victims of Dolly worry that it is this prejudice that has led the government to holding back support.

As FEMA begins damage assessments this week, residents hope that the origin of their ancestry will not play a role in any decisions made.