Manrrique: We prepare for the real thing all year long

The Brownsville Public Library was transformed into the city's emergency operations center on Tuesday for Hurricane Dolly's imminent arrival.

"We're going to have a direct hit this time," said police spokesman Jimmy Manrrique on Tuesday evening. Behind him, yellow and red gradations swirled through the Gulf of Mexico across a projection screen. "We prepare for the real thing all year long."

Representatives of the Brownsville Police Department, Fire Department, Animal Rescue, Brownsville Independent School District, and Search and Rescue were assembled at the center through the night.

By midnight, Dolly had not yet made landfall, but volunteers at the center were taking calls from residents asking whether they should ride out the storm at home or join the more than 200 others who had sought refuge at the Hanna High School shelter.

Mayor Pat Ahumada said that East Brownsville, where the storm would likely hit first, was of particular concern.

"We're expecting three and a half feet of storm surge," he said, referring to water pushed ashore from the Gulf of Mexico as the storm makes landfall. "That could make it all the way to Four Corners (Boca Chica Boulevard and South Padre Island Highway), which we know is an area prone to flooding."

By late Tuesday, two strike teams from the state's emergency management division were deployed to the city from Governor Perry's office.

After weathering Hurricanes Dean and Beulah, Ahumada said he was accustomed to the dangers of a storm, and didn't believe Brownsville would sustain significant damages.

"Most of the homes here are built to hurricane strength," he said.

At the downtown fire station on E. Adams Street nearing 11:00 p.m., Fire Captain Robert Vera hoped that the mayor was right.

"The downtown area floods pretty bad," he said. "Hopefully the houses will hold up."

Whether the city sustains only water damage or a more severe hit from the hurricane, the crews at central command are ready to act.
As he waited for the first emergency calls of the storm, Fire Chief Leny Perez checked in with his wife at home.

"As long as we keep in communication, it's okay," he said. "Our families know that the danger is part of our commitment to service."