Maverick County Communities of Quemado and Normandy Sustain Heavy Damages Due to Flooding Caused By Over 12 Inches of Rain
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2025
A series of heavy thunderstorms pounded Maverick County and the adjacent northern counties of Kinney, Val Verde, and Edwards on Sunday, July 13 and Monday, July 14, 2025, drenching the region with over 12 inches of rain within a 24 hour period that caused severe flooding in the northern Maverick County communities of Quemado and Normandy, Texas.
The thunderstorms began late-evening, Sunday, July 13, and continued non-stop into Monday, July 14, all day, causing severe flooding of creeks, canals, and rivers as the rainfall waters channeled their way through northern Maverick County to become eventually discharged into the Rio Grande River, but not before requiring the mandatory evacuation of residents in Quemado and Normandy in the late-afternoon of Monday, July 14, according to a Mandatory Evacuation Resolution issued by Maverick County Judge Ramsey English Cantu.
The City of Eagle Pass and Maverick County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) swung into operation late-Sunday, July 13, evening and into the morning of Monday, July 14, monitoring the rising waters of the Las Moras Creek, El Canon Grande Creek, Quemado Creek, Seco Creek, Eagle Pass Creek, the Maverick County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 water irrigation canals, and the Rio Grande River.
The Eagle Pass-Maverick County Emergency Operations Center frantically worked with all local, county, state, and federal first responders and law enforcement agencies to coordinate the swift rescue of at least 47 persons in Quemado and Normandy on Monday and Tuesday, July 14-15, 2025 from the floodwaters. In many instances, the floodwaters rose up to two or three feet into homes and farm buildings, requiring first responders to use boats to rescue the people from the rising floodwaters in their homes and properties.
Early on Monday, July 14, morning Maverick County Judge Ramsey English Cantu issued a Voluntary Evacuation Resolution and a Declaration of Emergency, but later in the day changed it to a Mandatory Evacuation due to rising floodwaters and water drainage from upstream counties such as Kinney, Val Verde, and Edwards.
The Emergency Operations Center in collaboration with the Texas Department of Transportation and Department of Public Safety issued on Monday, July 14th, notices of road closures for several Maverick County roads and highways, including FM 1666, FM 1591, FM 1908, FM 1588, Texas Highways 131 and 481, and U. S. Highway 277 North.
Most of these roads and highways remained closed for most of the day on Monday, July 14th, but were later reopened on Tuesday, July 15th, as the floodwater levels began to recede, except for FM 1588 (Thompson Road) which remained closed as of Wednesday, July 16th, stranding many families without food, water, necessities, and restricting travel into Eagle Pass.
Also on Monday, July 14th, Maverick County opened a temporary emergency shelter at the June Edwards Community Center in Quemado, Texas, but later in the afternoon had to relocate the temporary emergency shelter to the City of Eagle Pass Cruz Antonio Munoz Gymnasium due to the severe flooding sustained by Quemado.
Quemado and Normandy residents were finally allowed to return to their residences and properties on Wednesday, July 16th, to assess the damages sustained as a result of the floodwaters, many properties having suffered heavy water damages to the buildings and personal property inside their homes.
On Wednesday, July 16th, the Emergency Operations Center held a press conference at the June Edwards Community Center in Quemado, notifying residents that Maverick County was going to seek emergency disaster relief funds from the State of Texas and needed them to provide an assessment of the damages sustained by each of them for purposes of applying for emergency relief grants. Additionally, the Texas Department of Emergency Services and the Texas Department of Agriculture were present at the June Edwards Community Center to take information and surveys of damage to properties, crops, and livestock as a result of the floodwaters. The American Red Cross opened a temporary assistance office at the June Edwards Community Center to assist all Maverick County residents who sustained damages.
The Rio Grande River water level rose by an estimated 11.5 feet during July 14-15, 2025, but did not crest above its banks in Eagle Pass, Texas, although the water flow was fast and filled to maximum capacity.
The Elm Creek along U. S. Highway 277 North rose an estimated 10 feet, but did not go over the highway bridge. Local authorities were closely monitoring Elm Creek. By Thursday, July 17th, Elm Creek and all other creeks and Rio Grande River water levels were receding and no longer posed a danger to residents of Maverick County.
All Maverick County residents who sustained damages to their residences, personal property, farms and ranches, livestock, crops or buildings are advised to go to the June Edwards Community Center in Quemado, Texas to report their damages with the appropriate state agencies.
For more information, please contact the Eagle Pass-Maverick County Emergency Operations Center at (830) 421-5151 or (830) 421-5122.
