Mayor activates command center

The city’s Emergency Management Command Center at the Brownsville Public Library has been activated.

“We are well prepared,” Mayor Pat M. Ahumada Jr. said, referring the imminent arrival of Tropical Storm Alex, expected to be upgraded to a hurricane later today.

“This a very dangerous storm and it should not be taken lightly,” said Ahumada, who also is the city’s emergency management director.

He said that up to 20 inches of rain could be expected in some areas.

“It is a dangerous storm. It is a lingering storm,” he said, calling its 150-radius – the distance from the center to the edge – “humongous.”

He said it will likely cause “a lot of havoc and damage.”

Personnel from various departments and agencies, including firefighters, hazardous materials teams, health and medical services, search and rescue, mass care, and energy and utilities, congregated at the command center Tuesday to plan for Alex.

“We continue to ask our citizens to remain calm but be proactive in preparing their homes and property for the storm,” the mayor said.

Ahumada said that if the demand were made known, the city would open a shelter at Porter High School at 3500 International Blvd. People who need shelter should call the command center at (956) 504-7405.

Meanwhile, the distribution of sandbags continues at the following locations:

Public Work’s Department – 6035 Coffeeport Road

Besteiro Middle School – 6280 Southmost Blvd.

Vela Middle School – 4905 Paredes Line Road

Rivera High School – 6955 FM 802

H-E-B – on Southmost Boulevard

The regularly scheduled city commission meeting planned for Tuesday night has been cancelled.