Acuña Flooded

Ciudad, Acuña — A large amount of rain fell on Northern Mexico in the wake of Hurricane Alex. Because this region drains into the Rio Grande, warnings were issued in Acuña, Mexico and in Del Rio, Texas - Acuña's sister city across the border.

Father Sabino, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church spent Friday and Saturday driving to residents living near the Rio Grande or the many streams that are fed by that river, to convince the people to move to higher ground. Many of the poor feared looters or wanted more time to move their few possessions to a safe place. City officials also dispatched cars with loud-speakers and warned people to move to higher ground and the safety of shelters.

On Monday, July 5th, residents were stunned by the rapid rise of the rivers and streams. Within minutes the water rose 20 feet. Bridges were covered. Houses were washed away. Cars were washed away. Many of the poor lost everything they owned.

The massive flooding included every stream and dry creek-bed that was connected to the Rio Grande. Shocked residents watched in horror as tiny streams turned into huge flooded rivers. People grabbed their children and ran.

Trees were uprooted. Parks were destroyed. Cars were picked up by the raging water and slammed into bridge supports. Parts of the roadways were also destroyed. The local authorities reported that there were four known deaths in Acuña due to the flooding.

As the Amistad Damn rose, water needed to be released and it was evident that cities and towns south of Acuña would also be flooded. Again, the water flowed into every stream that branched off the Rio Grande. Consequently, the roads connecting Acuña with other cities became impassable. Buses and cars could no longer take people to Monterrey for scheduled medical treatments. Families in places like Monterrey found that they could not get home. Representatives at the bus companies stated they hope to resume service between Acuña and Monterrey by July 22.

The Ripple Effect The impact on the poor is unbelievable. To understand the impact, one must understand the

housing, infrastructure and a little about the city's roads, bridges and waterways.

Since N.A.F.T.A. the population in this city exploded. Thousands and thousands came from all

over Mexico in search of the factory jobs. Prices rose because of the huge demands. The

average factory worker earns about $65 per week in a city with a cost of living as high as San

Antonio. The city government, in order to attract the building and operation of foreign owned

factories, gave huge tax breaks to employers. This all added up to increased needs for roads,

sewage treatment, electricity, potable water, medical care, schools and social services without

any increase in tax dollars. A former mayor requested that the state divide Acuña into two cities

because the city was simply overwhelmed with demands for services it could not provide.

As new arrivals discovered the high cost of living, many began homesteading empty land.

Typically, they would fence off a small plot of land, clear the land, build a shack from card-board

and scrap lumber and then begin purchasing cinder-block and cement to build a small house.

Many people completed their house in about four years. The city inspector would usually show

up and explain that the land was owned by the city and a payment plan was established

enabling the family to purchase the land.

Although housing is prohibited along many areas near waterways, poor families often try to

homestead that land. They build card-board and eventually build cinder-block houses. We've

met families in the past who sought our help because they were notified by the government that

they must move. They don't understand that many empty pieces of government land cannot be

homesteaded. They live on these patches of land for years and are appalled that they must

move. Many refuse to do so.

Roads and Bridges Many of the roads remain unpaved. Those that are paved, seldom have drainage ditches, so

the water from violent storms cover the roads and often damage the roads and highways.

Many streams and dry creeks are connected to the Rio Bravo, as the Rio Grande is know in

Mexico. The federal government and the city share responsibility for any land that is near a

waterway. The city prohibits most housing near the waterways because of the danger of

flooding. However, the newly arriving people and the poor are unaware of the restriction. They

see other shacks along the rivers and creeks and build small homes. Even if the poor aware of

the prohibition assume that this is an old rule that is not enforced because they see others that

have lived on the waterway for several years.

Because of the proximity of the Rio Grande, lakes, streams and culverts, there are many

bridges in Acuña. This is also true in every town, city and village along the Rio Grande. When

the area floods, cities can become isolated. Roads and bridges are sometimes washed away.

Trees, vehicles and debris batter the pylons that support bridges.

When the flood washed away these homes, the poor lost everything. Many returned to an empty

space. Parents look at their children and do not even know what to say. There is no food, no

clothing, no blanket, no mattress, no stove and simply an empty space where their home stood.

Neighbors help each-other as they build pitiful looking shacks that look as if they will fall down

any moment. Many remain at shelters, churches, and sleep in the town square.

Many families have at least one member living on their property because the government will

send out workers to assess the damages and to provide some help. "We must be here so we

can file for help." is the often repeated remark. Many of these places do not have addresses.

Many are not on a street. They were simply houses built on empty land near the river.

Because the roads and bridges between Acuña and other cities remain impassable, groceries

and supplies are short. The food in the stores is now very expensive. Over a hundred thousand

people need help. H.E.B. has sent truck loads of food and water to help the people, but with

over a hundred thousand people needed daily meals - many are hungry.

Ten days after the flood, the bus companies still cannot provide service between Acuña and

Monterrey. This presents a critical medical problem because people must travel to Monterrey for

many medical procedures like chemotherapy and surgery that is not available in Acuña. On July

13th, Paper Houses Across the Border met with several families that cannot get their children to

the hospitals in Monterrey. We looked at every option and there simply is no method of

transportation from Acuña to any major hospital in Mexico. Furthermore, we were told by

officials that this situation may not change for at least another week.

Charities, such as DREAMS and Paper Houses Across the Border, provide food, clothing and

comfort to as many people as possible. However, the lack of publicity about the need in Acuña

has left a lot of agencies in the dark.

Counting the Dead The transient population, cardboard houses and the fear by officials of being accused of not

providing sufficient warnings and precautions make it difficult to know how many people die

when a catastrophe strikes. In a flood, bodies are swept away. Some are recovered in other

cities and never identified. Some are never found. Some are not reported missing because they

are new arrivals or because they were preparing to move on and neighbors assume they simply

returned to their former town.

To date, four bodies have been recovered in Acuña from the floodwaters. It seems likely that

there was not a tremendous loss of life because the flood struck during daylight hours and there

were many warnings in the preceding days. By all reports, the government, clergy and media

provided warnings.

What Next? The city will recover. The roads and bridges will be repaired. The government will provide some

assistance to the people. Many will simply rebuild along the rivers and streams because they

have no choice. Some will try to cross into the United States. This latest tragedy and the fear

about the drug violence will prompt some to cross our border.

Most will continue to live a hand-to-mouth existence in the hope that their children will have a

better life. The education available in Acuña is often described by parents as the reason they do

not return to their villages and towns. The parents hope that because their children will be

educated that their lives will be better.