The roof of La Tienda Amigo, almost directly across from the Gateway Bridge had collapsed into a huge heap of debris after a brief but torrential summer downpour. The store had stood for decades, a popular discount-clothing store where many local residents and shoppers from Matamoros across the river had shopped in the days before power retail centers and expansive malls turned Brownsville into a carcass of what it used to be.
But on that day, July 7, 1988, La Tienda Amigo was no more than a giant mound of debris, trapping dozens of shoppers and others seeking refuge from the rainstorm.
News reports of the day indicate that for the next three days, firefighters and rescue workers converged on the disaster site, doing all they could to find survivors while making the grim discoveries of those who had perished under the rubble. The collapse of La Tienda Amigo would leave 14 people dead, 47 others injured, and enduring memories of tragedy and grief for those lost while marveling at how a city rallied to help those in need.
Witnesses now recall the real-life drama of heroic rescue efforts. Onlookers and rescuers cheered and clapped when those working tirelessly to find survivors pulled out a live victim. The elation, however, would fade to dark silence when the next body recovered was simply a recovery, not a rescue.
We thank one of our avid seven readers for ending us these unique pictures of the store before and after the disaster.)
7 comments:
If you go to the park directly across from the immigration offices, cross the street as if you are coming from Matamoros, you will find plaques like the ones found in cemeteries with the names of the persons that died (including children and a Matamoros Dr.)It specifies their death in the TIENDA AMIGO tragedy.
I remember that day as if it was yesterday. I had a student who survived but would get epileptic seizures after being trapped 2 days under rubble. Kids would ask him how he felt or what it was like.
If he is still in Brownsville, he is about 45 or 46 yrs old .
How time flies.
Juan what a horrible day, i was on the scene just moments after we heard about this building collapsing, i was working at Brownsville city hall. Many lives lost, rubble everything, people screaming for help. Horrible event.
You are going to see another disaster if a hurricane comes to Brownsville.
Charlie Cabler and the planning department did not get the windstorm fixtures installed in homes but signed off on the windstorm certification, when I reported this to Charlie Cabler (I have got the email), he replied that he would look into it, yet nothing was ever done about it, I have the addresses of the homes in question.
alot of people responded and helped that day
I remember this event vividly, as well. My grandfather was sitting at home listening to both the rain and his police scanner. The call came in over the scanner. The dispatcher believed there was some sort of electrical explosion. My grandfather went outside and hitched a ride on a passing backhoe and went to the site of the building to help with the rescue efforts.
After the collapse, the city said more people would have survived had EMS been equipped with ambulances that had the larger box rather than the older style vans.
The city would rather have fake milage and expenses to pay the commissioners, than safety equipment.
That is what Charlie Cabler was good at cheating on the expenses like paying the same mileage to three commissioners for three months the exact amount of mileage. His commissioners expenses over safety, he now wants to become Mayor so he can hire The Jackass Jason Hilts as his consultant.
Damn shame that the Fire Chief from Edinburg had to take charge of the scene cause the Asst. Chief in charge from the BFD turned around and went back to Central Station. And as for the DPS, they would not do anything to get their uniforms dirty. Kudos to Freddie Gonzalez, Public works employee for his heroic efforts in helping crawl through spaces no one else could. David Hinojosa and Jesse Lopez BFD firefighters were at the scene for days on end. Goes to show that when the shit hits the fan, firefighters take the lead, with the exception of our own leadership at the time.
Post a Comment