Dolly Hits South Texas Coast but Spares Levees

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Texas Residents Clean-up Storm Damage

Residents in Brownsville, Texas are picking up the pieces after Tropical Storm Dolly tore through the area. The combination of flooded neighborhoods and downed or low-hanging power lines has emergency officials in Hidalgo County concerned.

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When Dolly came ashore at midday, the hurricane caused damage but no reported loss of life on South Padre, a barrier island that is home to many beach resorts. The powerful winds caused part of an apartment building's roof to collapse, blew down signs, bent palm trees in half and knocked out power to an estimated 27,000 customers.

By that point, the hurricane had already dealt a minor economic blow: As the storm crossed the Gulf of Mexico, offshore oil and gas operators evacuated dozens of drilling platforms and rigs in its path, shutting down about 4.5 percent of U.S. oil production in the gulf and nearly 7.9 percent of natural gas production, according to the Interior Department's Minerals Management Service.

Less clear as Dolly roared through was the fate of small communities north and south of the Rio Grande, including scattered colonias, enclaves that are home to impoverished immigrants who often live without sewer and water service.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) declared 14 South Texas counties disaster areas and put 1,200 National Guard troops on alert. The disaster declaration cleared the way for the state to send equipment and emergency workers to areas in Dolly's path. Before the hurricane weakened, state officials said they would not order mandatory evacuations unless it reached Category 3.

Across the border, where news of Dolly's destruction remained limited, Mexican soldiers struggled to rescue people trapped by flooding near the mouth of the Rio Grande, the AP reported. The soldiers used an inflatable raft to rescue at least one trapped family.

Hurricane watchers remained mindful of the example of Hurricane Beulah in 1967, a stronger storm that caused severe flooding after it slammed ashore. As much as 30 inches of rainfall caused record flooding that remained for months on the coastal plains.

Branigin reported from Washington. Staff researchers Madonna Lebling and Eddy Palanzo in Washington contributed to this report.