AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ State Parks and Wildlife officials have closed three south Texas state parks and sent extra game wardens to the Rio Grande Valley.
There, they’ll be positioned to help respond to emergency’s as Tropical Storm Alex approaches hurricane strength and moves toward the mouth of the Rio Grande.
A statement Tuesday from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says the state parks closed until the storm passes are Resaca de la Palma in Brownsville, Estero Llano Grande in Weslaco and Benmtsen-Rio Grande Valley in Mission. They operate as World Birding Center sites.
The department also sent 50 game wardens to a staging area in Mercedes, where they’ll stand by with 17 airboats and 33 shallow-draft boats to respond to emergencies.