LAREDO, Texas (AP) _ The gentle stream that usually marks the Rio Grande has bulged into a mighty river along much of its southern reach. That’s as a tropical depression dumped rain Thursday on a Texas-Mexico border region already struggling with flooded homes and evacuations after last week’s hurricane.
Authorities in Laredo evacuated several neighborhoods close to the river and a 16-story hotel on its banks as the river grew to 42-feet deep and water began to creep into some homes.
The muddy waters were driven by dam releases upstream and rain-swollen tributaries following last week’s Hurricane Alex. They submerged light poles and towering palm trees, leaving only a few fronds waving above the water line.
National Guard troops arrived in Laredo to help with evacuations, and people in low-lying areas were gathering sandbags to protect their homes before being forced to leave.