Janie Garcia I was a freshman at TSC and living at home. My older brother and his family came to stay with us. We had gas stove so ate well. We used the galvanized tubs to shower in cause we had no water except the one we had gathered. No electricity so when night fell, we would used kerosene lamps to get around. Trees were all over the streets but we were safe even though our home was in a corner.
Jim Tipton For a ten year old it was fun.
Mary Melching It was a week after my tenth birthday-!
George Longoria Mosquitos galore
Olga Moreno I missed the big one..Beulah..was working in Indiana in a catsup factory..with family..
Bernardo S Garza That's right. And it wasn't just ketchup; it was tomato soup, tomato sauce and canned tomatoes. When school started I worked night shift and weekends. It was like another life. Couldn't stand ketchup for a long time. That was my second and last year as a migrant worker, but nine years later I returned to the midwest for a different reason (UM Law School).
Olga Moreno Yes..even now I don't care too much for catsup..hehe..that was my last time as a migrant worker too..what adventures we had..and yes you went out again for a better reason and made us all proud..love you Bernie..
Bernardo S Garza Love you too Yogi
Fran Hancock I was working as a receptionist at the Newman Center on the TSC campus(building now a police station) under the supervision of Father Ballard (RIP) after studying full time in the Fall 1966. I too lived at home since our house was on Jackson Street just walking distance. Afterwards enrolled in night classes before going on to Texas A&I where I graduated in 1971. During Beulah, we had 18 people at our house during the hurricane - including three visitors from Monterrey, Mexico who could not return home before the storm. It was so scary since we heard objects hit the house and one of our sisters reported that our neighbor's tree was pulled from its roots and had blown away. Our uncle was in Vietnam and managed to call the Sheriff's office(it was law enforcement but not sure what group) to come and check on us because they were hearing on the news that we were off the map. I remember seeing the National Guard in the aftermath! We were fortunate given that we lived in a wooden house - built by our Dad of course but still made of wood. Thank the Lord we made it without any damages. Let's pray for those impacted by all the past hurricanes such as Harvey, Irma and now Maria. Many blessings to all
1967 Hurricane Beulah "McGee catches an airplane hanger [reference is to Mauldin's Airport] exploding between Brownsville and San Benito. Wind estimate 125 MPH. Five minutes later we were in dead calm of eye."
Gabe Vega Hmmm... Exactly 9 months before I was born? Coincidence?
Olga Lydia Saenz I was five years old. My family sheltered at Mercy Hospital. I got blown by the wind holding on to the screen door.
Poy M. Reta I was living in Brownsville, when it hit. Had to evaluate to the church of Christ the King.
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Mary Melching Daddy catching over 300 parrots and placing them in cages in our house.
Mother frying chicken by the buckets.
Hoarding water.
Dry ice.
Batteries.
Daddy plotting the movement of Beulah on the giant hurricane map...
My horse dying.
No school for 3 weeks...?
Seeing my father weep at the devastation.
Mother frying chicken by the buckets.
Hoarding water.
Dry ice.
Batteries.
Daddy plotting the movement of Beulah on the giant hurricane map...
My horse dying.
No school for 3 weeks...?
Seeing my father weep at the devastation.
1967 Press Photo A Fleet of Wrecked Shrimp Boats in Brownsville, Texas after Hurricane Beulah passed
Soledad Garcia Woodburn My family had moved to Wisconsin in April of 67! We were suppose to be back by Aug and never came back. Our house was totally emptied by Beulah. It came in the front door and out the back kitchen door. Since we were not there, no one secured our place. We lost all we had. My Mom & Dad drove down to see what they needed to do. Our neighbors had a tin can to give to Mom. This is where my Mom kept our all school Records and award. My State Gold Spelling Bee, and some other small valuable items that were of sentimental value to us .So the entire Family was very grateful to Oralia, who had rescued that from the floating water in our back yard . I pray for all those who are now going through the devastation of the hurricanes and the earthquakes. God Bless Us All
Nan Jones Hughes I was 16 and living on Monroe street with my Mom. My Aunt Ruth was staying with us and she had been dismissed from Mercy Hospital (had been there for nosebleeds). I will never forget that time. My Mom was securing boards across a door that lead from our garage and out to our back yard. My Aunt was holding the board for her to hammer the nails into. When they finished My Aunt went to take her had from the board and she couldn't get loose because her hand was lodged between the board and the door. We all laughed so hard. Those were some kind of pain killers she was on. My Aunt Ruth was Dr. Harry Millers Receptionist for over 20 years. RIP to all 3
Robert Casares Seven years old and living in San Antonio. On trips to the valley for the next year or two, I remember fields full of water next to US-77 in Raymondville and Lyford.
Asked my cousin about my great grandmother's home in San Benito and there was no damage.
Asked my cousin about my great grandmother's home in San Benito and there was no damage.
Gracie V. Miranda I was six years old! I remember going to my elementary school for shelter. It was a last minute decision my parents made.😃
Cynthia Lee Espinosa Strong I was also six years old...my family and I sought shelter at Sams football stadium.
1966 Press Photo Hurricane Inez-Residents of lowlands around Brownsville
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Maria Garza I was twelve when Beulah hit Brownsville. My parents, myself and six siblings were moved to the civic Center by the National guard. My mother did not want to leave our house and prepared very well for the storm. But when she saw all the neighbors leaving, she changed her mind. Don't remember how long we were in the shelter, but it eventually got unlivable. The windows were breaking and the toilets were not working and messy. One thing I cannot forget was the stench. Everyone was sleeping on the floor. After the storm, we found out our house was completely destroyed. We lived with our aunt, who lived across the alley behind us, for about three months. Her house was untouched. Dad had our house rebuilt. Not sure what kind of help he got, if a low interest loan or grant, not sure. So he wouldn't have to borrow so much, he had only the shell built and later worked on the inside walls and other details himself. It was very scary and when hurricane Harvey was coming I could feel that it was going to be bad. It was a gut feeling. You see, I live in Houston now and have lived thru my share of storms. My family and I have been lucky though. I am thankful.
Kim Tipton I remember taping windows with masking tape, so hard to clean off. We had a gas stove and lots of ice in chests.
Lita Palmer Besteiro Didn't need special hurricane or flood insurance back then. Regular home insurance covered it. I remember parents taking tons of 'before"&"after " pics
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One of these days I'll dig out the pics
1954 Press Photo Brownsville Police rescue family from flood waters, TX
Doc Roberts I helped deliver meds.
Cindy Abrego Morales I was eleven years old.. I remember going to my grandmother house in Mercedes Tx .. we were there till the storm was over ... I remember helping my mom pack a lot of food and big bottle of water ... It was a very bad storm .. the winds were real bad ...
Diana Morrison I had just married September 1, 1967....weeks before Beulah hit Brownsville head on! My mother-in-law's name was Beulah....was a little afraid of what I had gotten myself into! The hurricane did a lot of damage to Brownsville. My parents home (two doors down from Dr. Harry Miller) on Honeydale had 30 year old trees blown over. My Mom was devastated as she had planted every one of them. We had 4x8 sheets of plywood on every window, so our house was pretty spared from damage. Everyone in my family drive inland....we don't stay for hurricanes, too dangerous!
Brownsville Station This is great. Later on I would like to make a post of this on the BS blog for future readers to enjoy your comments which really tell so much more than photographs ever could. thank you all <3
Leo Rodriguez I was 11 years old, my dad & my grandfather were carpenters, they assured family our house was structurally sound, so we stayed, and they were right.
After hurricane hit, dad drove us to Harlingen to see the impact. I still vividly recall the Arroyo Colorado, the water level almost reached the bridge street surface. About a week later we would hear airplanes spraying mosquitos, which were horrible, we couldn't step outside without being bitten continuously.
After hurricane hit, dad drove us to Harlingen to see the impact. I still vividly recall the Arroyo Colorado, the water level almost reached the bridge street surface. About a week later we would hear airplanes spraying mosquitos, which were horrible, we couldn't step outside without being bitten continuously.
Donna Sue Cameron My sister and I were Seniors at the new Brownsville High School. I sat up all night with my dad on watch and filled out my application to college, Trinity University. The next day we volunteered with the girl Scouts at the High school shelter then volunteered on food trucks in Port Isabel which had been leveled. The old causeway was closed to South Padre Beach.
Hector Guajardo I was 4 when we road out CARLA the parents had sedated us kids and tucked us in bed incase we didn't survive it. They realized how bad that was, so when Beulah headed in my parents decided we would high tail it out to San Antonio only to find that there were no hotel vacancies in the city. It wasnt much better there when we realized we had road out a Texas Tornado and how fortunate we were to survive it. A lady who saw us staying in a park took us in to her home and lucky for us that she had a basement shelter in her three story home which got damaged by the tornado.
Cindy Abrego Morales Everybody was there Tia .. even though it was a scary time .. we all have our good memories being together..,
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Priscilla Abbott These are great stories. I had finished teaching at Cummings for 7 years and was planning to leave for Seattle to study Japanese Language at the U. of Washington for a few months before leaving for Japan. I was able to leave Brownsville on the last plane before Beulah hit. Then I could not contact my parents for many days. Their roof had had some damage so they went to an uncle's house. The previous hurricane to make such serious contact in Brownsville was over 30 years earlier. There are stories that my mother went through that one under a mattress at her parents' house in Port Isabel. Last month I left Victoria just ahead of Harvey. My apartment was undamaged, but many residences in this city have been ruined by that storm.
Susan Guerra I grew up with stories of this hurricane Beulah, my grandma took refuge at a school in Matamoros and that the walls would move and shake right in front of them, total devastation fr months after, i was only 1 and living in Lousiana with my family
Stella Garcia We were at Nana and Tata house with the door open went downtown next
Morning and there were Nationsl guardsmen all over the place there was hardly any damage only a few broken store fronts
Morning and there were Nationsl guardsmen all over the place there was hardly any damage only a few broken store fronts
Stella Garcia The flooding occurred in Harlingen not Brownsville and people that left could not come back
Carol Lee Davidson I was working at Mercy Hospital in the ER. All hospital staff had to stay and work. If you had family they were welcome to come there also. The very elderly bedridden retired nuns lived in the basement part of the hospital. They were so good. Lots of mothers from Matamoros came in during the storm to have their babies. We were very busy that night. My parents stayed home and rode out the storm. We never surrender!,
Dam Gunnoe My mother was pregnant with me,and we stayed in the basement of Mercy Hospital.
1967 aerial of Gateway International Bridge after Hurricane Beulah
Norma Garcia I was not born yet my father domingo Rivera Sr told me they had just baptized my older sister they had to tie ropes around their waists because of the flood water to get from one place to another if you were going out. he would say it was a really really bad storm my dad had lots of stories he would be conversing everyday he was born in 1908 so he had lived through alot
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Maria Alaniz I was 3 yrs old..when Bullah hit Mexico cuz that's where I was born n believe it or not I remember..my mom full of mud in her face water up to her chest..n she would go n get us food up in a hill from the helicopters from the US..to help us..I remember Bullah...then after that my mom brought all my brothers n sisters to the valley to Mission..n I've been here ever since...I will never forget Bullah .
Rosemary Sloss Parra We had just moved back to Brownsville. It was scary!
1967 Hurricane Beulah 1444 Palomar home (Mels Antiques)
1967 Hurricane Beulah 1444 Palomar home (Mels Antiques)
Robert Mora I was 7 living in a very old house. We came back and found it still standing, even surviving a tree falling on the roof
Sophia Gonzalez I was 8 yrs old and all my family waited through it in the Buena Vida projects where we lived at till 1969. Moved to Dallas the following year & still here.
1967 HAM radio operators help communicate with the outside world - (SPI LIFE Facebook page)
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Joseph Biela Um. I was two years old so no memories other than those shared by family. I do remember the next one (Celia) _ But my grandpa telling me his refrigerator was found two blocks down.
Martha Capie I do remember! I was also very young living in San Diego and my mom was so worried for our family here
1967 El Pirata and other shrimp boats got licked by Hurricane Beulah
1967 Press Photo A Fleet of Wrecked Shrimp Boats in Brownsville, Texas
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Juan Johnny Solis I was a graduate of Class of 1967 and June 1 was my graduation. I had been working as a VOE student the the PUB Power Plant on the West Side of Bville. I was 18 yrs old when Beulah hit us in Sept. Being single and no family I volunteered to help keep the plant running with Clarence Fragoso, Macedonio Lopez, Jimmy Frausto and Ruben Cano who brought their Families and bunked in the lower part of the building. We were able to keep the giant screens from clogging up with debris and trash so water could circulate and keep the steam turbines going even thou power was out in the City. Simply it was a nightmare...category 5 hurricanes are scary.
Jessica Stone My mother, 2 brothers, sister and I stayed at my grandmother's house on Levee Street. Daddy was a Border Patrolman and was on duty thru the storm. Very scary yet exciting for us. When we got back to our own casa on Greenway, our fence was blown down. 9 years old.
Holly Miller Our family boarded up the windows and went to Laredo for a couple of days. We lived on Los Ebanos St. at that time.
David Stanley I was 12. As we returned to the valley after the hurricane, I remember national guard helicopters swirling overhead, and entire houses floating down the floodway we were crossing. Our house in Brownsville had a lot of broken windows and the inside was covered with mold. SO many mosquitoes!
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Pam Johnson Day My father was out of town so it was my mom and 4 kids and 1 being a toddler. We left Brownsville and traveled to Harlingen where my grandmother and uncle lived. My uncle worked for Southwestern Bell so we were able to stay at the telephone building (all brick)until the storm pasted. I do remember how it damaged the island and Port Isabell. I was just thinking about that time in my life because we just rode out Harvey.
June Dittman I had to go back to teach school at Russell Elementary wit NO power! We had "mold chandeliers" hanging from the ceiling and it was warm and humid! I went home to no power. During the super high wind blowing against the house, we watched the shingles from my grandmother's house "peel off" as if they were paper in the angry wind blowing very swift and horizontally! It was frightening at times as objects blew and struck our house and windows! I am thankful that we have not had a storm this year!
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Chuck Pace Beulah was the first hurricane I remember impacting Victoria. I was 8. Must have been mostly rain that far north of Brownsville. But we talked about it for years!
Page copies of Portrait of Beulah memorial publication shared by Gloria Bermea
I was 10 years old. The garage door blew in as well as the common wall with living room. My dad and brothers tried to nail it back up while my sister and I sat in a chair to hold the wall up. During the eye we made a run for a hotel. I was shocked at the damage we saw as we went to check on my dads shrimp boat . It was the only one in a line of ten or so that was not sunk. Other boats were tossed up on land like toys .still gives me goosebumps to think about it .
ReplyDeleteI was very worried about our home because it was very old, so talked my parents into going to an Aunt's. Meanwhile, my boyfriend, Mike Long and his parents were leaving out of here and so I went with them. Well...I don't know how far we got when Mike's parents decided to turn around and drive us BACK into it! What??!! So it got pretty bad. They pulled their small car, which had them, Michael's brother, Mike and I and their dog, into a gas station. Michael and I spent the first part of the hurricane perched on a single sink ( bathroom very small and flooded). Then we drove back into Brownsville during the Eye of the storm.There were trees and wires all over the roads. I was scared to death! Got back to his house just as it was hitting again. Oh, and btw, my aunts house sustained a lot of damage, our home not one bit; as a matter of fact a beer can still sat atop the air conditioner right where daddy left it!
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