Dolly Slams Texas Coast, Weakens Over Land

Hurricane Blows Ashore On South Padre Island; Levees Hold Despite Heavy Rain

(CBS/AP)  Hurricane Dolly barreled into South Texas Wednesday, lashing the coast with winds up to 100 mph and dumping heavy rain that threatened to flood low-lying areas but spared levees along the heavily populated Rio Grande Valley.

Authorities had feared the first hurricane to hit the U.S. since last September could produce up to 20 inches of rain in some areas, possibly breaching levees in the heavily populated Rio Grande Valley. But shortly before coming ashore, the Category 2 storm meandered 35 miles north of the border, veering away from the flood walls.

"The levees are holding up just fine," said Johnny Cavazos, emergency coordinator for Cameron County. "There is no indication right now that they are going to crest."

Although the system weakened after striking land on the resort area of South Padre Island, one official cautioned that the danger had not passed.

"It's still very early in the storm," said Sally Spener, a spokeswoman with the International Boundary and Water Commission.

Small communities just north of Brownsville were taking the brunt of the storm, including low-lying colonias, small villages of immigrants who live without sewer and water service.

Most of the destruction was on the island, where the hurricane knocked out power to thousands of homes, ripped off roofs and smashed windows.

Roads and yards were strewn with toppled trees, fences, power poles and streetlights. Business signs rolled around the streets like tumbleweeds. The causeway linking the island to the mainland was closed.

In Mexico, soldiers made a last-minute attempt to rescue people at the mouth of the Rio Grande, using an inflatable raft to retrieve at least one family trapped in their home. Many people further inland refused to go to government shelters.

"These are people who did not want to leave, and now they are in trouble," said Leticia Montalvo, a spokeswoman for the town of Matamoros, just across the river from Brownsville.

The roof of an apartment complex on South Padre Island partially collapsed, but residents said they didn't believe anybody was injured.

"I thought it was just a big clap of thunder, (then) saw this stuff flying around and it's the roof," said Buck Dopp, who lives in a ground-floor apartment.

South Padre Emergency Manager Dan Quandt told CBS New Early Show meteorologist Dave Price that Dolly's initial fierceness was surprising.

"It's amazing how much a few degrees and a few miles per hour make. This has been much stronger than we thought going in," Quandt said.

A 17-year-old boy fell from a seventh-story balcony, injuring his head, breaking his hip and fracturing his leg. The boy was being treated at an island fire station.

At 8 p.m. EDT Wednesday, the storm's center was about 60 miles northwest of Brownsville and moving west-northwest at about 10 mph. The storm's maximum sustained winds had weakened to about 75 mph. Forecasters expected to downgrade it to a tropical storm later Wednesday night.

Dolly spawned thunderstorms as far away as Houston, 400 miles up the coast. Tornado watches were in effect for many coastal counties between Corpus Christi and Houston.

CBS affiliate KGBT reports that Gov. Rick Perry put the state's military force on alert - making 1,200 men and women with the Army National Guard and Air and Texas National Guards ready for deployment orders in response to Dolly.

"Currently we have soldiers based in Austin, San Antonio, Houston," Col. Bill Meehan of the Texas Army National Guard Center in Austin told KBGT. "And we have two air units that are prepared to launch; one out of Austin, one out of San Antonio."

In Mexico, a 102-year-old woman and seven family members fled their wooden shack in the fishing community of Higuerilla and spent the night at a shelter in Matamoros.

"I don't know if my poor house will withstand the rain and wind," Maria Miguel said.

Many of those who headed north to escape the storm were stopped at inland Border Patrol checkpoints, where agents opened extra lanes so they could check documentation. At one checkpoint on U.S. Route 77, smugglers were caught with 5,000 to 8,000 pounds of marijuana.

Power was knocked out to more than 56,200 customers in three border counties. South Padre Island also lost power.

Thousands of people fled to shelters in towns on both sides of the border while police and National Guard troops patrolled neighborhoods.

In Brownsville, the wind bent over palm trees and tossed debris across the all-but empty streets. The windows and doors of shops were boarded up with plywood, and most businesses were closed.

The U.S. Census Bureau said that based on Dolly's projected path, about 1.5 million Texans could feel the storm's effects. Gov. Rick Perry declared 14 south Texas counties disaster areas and sought federal disaster declarations.

As Dolly approached, oil and gas companies in the Gulf of Mexico evacuated workers from 62 production platforms and eight rigs, according to the U.S. Minerals Management Service, which monitors offshore activity.

Shell Oil, which didn't expect production to be affected by the evacuations, also secured wells and shut down operations in the Rio Grande Valley, where it primarily deals in natural gas.

The last hurricane to hit the U.S. was the fast-forming Humberto, which came ashore in South Texas last September. Dolly is the 26th hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. in July since record keeping started in 1851, according to federal researchers.

The busiest part of the Atlantic hurricane season is usually in August and September. So far this year, there have been four named storms, two of which became hurricanes. Federal forecasters predict a total of 12 to 16 named storms and six to nine hurricanes this season.

[legacyabq]

actually, storms follow the influence of the jet stream and low/hi pressure zones. What do you think this is, the 14th century? Open a book for pete''s sake. People like you make the GOP a laughing stock.

[sistatee-2009]

How come all the hurricans got white names? Ain''t no hurricane named Ice Kool J.

[frostytreat2]

SistaTee,
The reason all hurricanes have what you call "white" names is because who would name a storm...Shameeka or Franzeema or Tineeka?

[gwagener]

OMG! Someone in Texas must have said something positive about gay marriage and god is out to get them!

[eyewideopen]

No, actually God is angry with the Mexicans for illegally crossing the border and all those terrible people who hire them in Texas. God hates free enterprise.

[pfanerk]

We all know that what causes hurricanes -- AND is responsible for 9/11, as well as the moral decline in America -- is the homosexuals. Oh, wait ... the liberals, too. Ah, yes ... and pushy, assertive, professional women. Heck, EVERYONE is responsible for hurricanes. But not right-wing fundamentalists. Let''s make that VERY clear. To quote Mammy Yokum, which any red-blooded midwesterner can do, "I has spoken!"

[airmanc5]

Breaking news!!! Hollywood is rushing in Spike Lee to proclaim George Bush Bombed the Levies. Spike refuse to go to De Moine Iowa, because it is a white area and people left when told to leave. Newsmedia silent on flooding in white area becaue the white people are helping themselves and each other.. NO riots, no stealing tv''s to eat or eating high priced tennis shoes LMAO

[xmanborg]

Its a Hurricane a storm that occurs naturally on the plantet earth. Stop giving God credit for natural disasters.

[patriotic9]

If god does exist and bible with it''s numerous versions and contradiction is a book of god, then why god always punish bible belt for supporting bush in his effort of bringing jesus back to this world?

[messiahx4eve]

How come no hurricanes are named after any Native Americans, Arabs, Jews, Iraqis, Eskimos, Russians, Poles, Germans, Lesbians, Homosexuals, comic books, famous movie stars, dogs, cats, Wiccans, chickens, Mr. Ed, Lassie, Jessie Jackson, Al Sharpton? Keep it fair and above board now.....Betty Crocker, Aunt Jemima, Mrs Buttersworth, Kibbles & Bits, ole dubya, Heath Ledger.....

[nolalou]

messiahx4eve , this one "Hurricane Dolly" was named after a cloned sheep!

[teekaa1]

MAY I remind you that your forefathers were immigrants!! I have nEVER seen and read so much racial bias in my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get a grip and devise a system whereby immigrants can come legally and be an asset to America!!! Don''t you go thinking that just because you were born here you should have the right to exclude others who want to live and WORK here.

[rank_n_file]

About the single-most important piece of information people, especially people in the area, need to know in order to assess the possible severity of this hurricane event IS . . . did the hurricane hit land during HIGH tide or during LOW tide. Not a single news organization I have found bothered to find out and dispense this vital info. Not CBS, not MSNBC, not ABC, not Fox. No one. The U.S. Media is so obsessed with sensationalizing these events with meaningless hyperbolic generalities (torrential rains - devastating winds - massive destruction) that they have become utterly clueless as to what specific, relevant, meaningful pieces information and data is vitally important and needs to be communicated to the public. The tide condition is vital. It was HIGH tide when hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and it was a major factor in the resulting flooding that took place. The answer is that hurricane Dolly hit land almost precisely at the peak point of LOW tide. U.S. Media, pull your heads out of your butts and do your jobs.

[bustamcnutty]

About the single-most important piece of information people, especially people in the area, need to know in order to assess the possible severity of this hurricane event IS . . . did the hurricane hit land during HIGH tide or during LOW tide. Not a single news organization I have found bothered to find out and dispense this vital info. Not CBS, not MSNBC, not ABC, not Fox. No one. The U.S. Media is so obsessed with sensationalizing these events with meaningless hyperbolic generalities (torrential rains - devastating winds - massive destruction) that they have become utterly clueless as to what specific, relevant, meaningful pieces information and data is vitally important and needs to be communicated to the public. The tide condition is vital. It was HIGH tide when hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and it was a major factor in the resulting flooding that took place. The answer is that hurricane Dolly hit land almost precisely at the peak point of LOW tide. U.S. Media, pull your heads out of your butts and do your jobs.
uuugh the local news gives out all these important info..but if you are watching the national news they just give circus reviews..carry on

[donevis-2009]

The answer is that hurricane Dolly hit land almost precisely at the peak point of LOW tide. U.S. Media, pull your heads out of your butts and do your jobs.
Posted by Rank_n_File at 04:14 PM : Jul 23, 2008

They haven''t done they''re jobs in years. Investigative reporting is a thing form the past. This morning a report about oil speculative problems was headed by an old retired govt. worker who was supposed to know something. What a crock!! Main stream media is a joke. Banks hitting the skids and they''re drooling for another O.J. or Britney piece. "God Speed USA" Where are all our underground stations from the late 60''s?

[sistatee-2009]

SistaTee,
The reason all hurricanes have what you call "white" names is because who would name a storm...Shameeka or Franzeema or Tineeka?

Posted by frostytreat2 at 11:08 AM : Jul 23, 2008

Same folk that name they kid CRACKER!

[bustamcnutty]

About the single-most important piece of information people, especially people in the area, need to know in order to assess the possible severity of this hurricane event IS . . . did the hurricane hit land during HIGH tide or during LOW tide. Not a single news organization I have found bothered to find out and dispense this vital info. Not CBS, not MSNBC, not ABC, not Fox. No one. The U.S. Media is so obsessed with sensationalizing these events with meaningless hyperbolic generalities (torrential rains - devastating winds - massive destruction) that they have become utterly clueless as to what specific, relevant, meaningful pieces information and data is vitally important and needs to be communicated to the public. The tide condition is vital. It was HIGH tide when hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and it was a major factor in the resulting flooding that took place. The answer is that hurricane Dolly hit land almost precisely at the peak point of LOW tide. U.S. Media, pull your heads out of your butts and do your jobs....................................................................................................................................
uuugh the local news gives out all these important info..but if you are watching the national news they just give circus reviews..carry on

[labrat9999]

Just like McCain and his religious followers said about Katrina...this is God''s way of getting even with those evil folks in Texas for their bad ways...starting with George Bush!

[rudy654-2009]

I don''''t know where you reside Teekaa1 but from my perspective in my home state of TX, let me apprise you to how things are here. Before NAFTA (read: before Dubya)those immigrating from Mexico went through the proper immigration channels and assimilated into our culture (adopting the language, working and paying taxes, abiding by the laws of our land, etc.). Since NAFTA they immigrate illegally, do not want to assimilate into our culture, are a big reason for the increase in crime in our state (drugs, theft, murder are at the forefront of thier crimes).
************

Let me just say that you are far removed - from reality. The accusation that people used to immigrate prior to NAFTA and assimilate is plain krap. All immigrants eventually assimilate - or do you want people to be like the BORG and assimilate into duplicate robots? NAFTA has nothing to do with it. Immigrants have been coming over that border illegally since they decided the South West didn''t belong to Mexico anymore. The difference is now with regards to immigration laws that discriminate against the poor. Your ancestors who no doubt arrived here penniless, would no longer be welcomed here under today''s immigration provisions, which were established to prevent the undesirable races from coming to this country.

[generey]

OK people take a deep breath! WE ALL KNOW THAT ANYONE WHO LEADS A GOOD LIFE GOES TO TEXAS WHEN THEY DIE!!! So let''s all just get together and pray for the best! We can squabble later!!!

[jdsalinger12]

Hurricanes are never good, but the good news is many vacationers now have an excellent opportunity on their hands. By taking a trip to South Padre over the next few weeks, you can get great deals and save some of that hard earned cash. If you were looking for a way to go on an inexpensive vacation, this is your answer. All Texans know South Padre is great place to vacation so if you want to help the local economy: take a vacation here and enjoy good food, fishing and good friends.

Best,
Sam Malone
http://www.south-padre-island.net

[ubrew12]

JDSalinger12 said: "By taking a trip to South Padre over the next few weeks, you can get great deals and save some of that hard earned cash. "

I''ll bet the fishing will be better than normal also, since the hurricane will stir up the waters and bring nutrients to the surface.