[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 135 (Thursday, October 1, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE DEL RIO FLOOD HEROES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY BONILLA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 1, 1998

  Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Speaker, on August 23, 1998, the residents of Del 
Rio and other Texas border communities were hit with a devastating 
flood caused by Tropical Storm Charley. Nine people lost their lives. 
Five people are still missing. Over 600 families lost their homes and 
all their worldly possessions. The entire area lost a notion of 
security that can never be recovered. The town will never be the same. 
Perhaps the only good to come from this tragic situation is the story 
of a ravaged community coming together to rebuild lives.
  In this story four true heroes took the lead to restore peace and 
harmony in the grief-stricken town. Department of Public Safety 
Troopers, Joe Frank Martinez, Jimmey Granato and Robert ``Cinco'' Clark 
and Judge Dorothy Weddle emerged as heroes that set an example for us 
all. From the moment the realization of disaster hit, these four took 
the lead in the search for the missing persons. They went above and 
beyond the call of duty, working days and nights for two weeks 
straight--all for the unselfish purpose of helping families reunite 
with lost ones.
  Officers Martinez, Granato and Clark started with a list of 
approximately 267 missing persons and used every resource available to 
track down these people. After poring over phone books utility bills, 
social security and drivers' license records, these dedicated officers 
went from door to door in their diligent search for the missing. 
Through their tireless efforts, these men were able to reduce the 
missing people list from 267 to five. Had it not been for their 
initiative, the missing list would not be down to what it is today.
  Unfortunately, the search did not always end with a joyous reunion. 
All too often, the hunt ended with yet another casualty added to the 
death toll. Judge Dorothy Weddle notified and comforted families of the 
deceased so they could focus on more important things than bureaucratic 
procedures. She provided support to families when they needed it most.
  I would like to commend these four people for their leadership, their 
dedication, and most of all, their tireless efforts to help others. 
Their endeavors will always be remembered by those whose lives they 
touched and by those families they helped to reunite. They helped to 
restore harmony to a town wracked by disaster.

                          ____________________