safety
Dislodged Rio Grande buoys raise safety concerns as river levels rise
By Juan Puente at KGNS (NBC/ABC affiliate) — Local News
· July 18, 2026
· 2 min read
LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Laredo Mayor Dr. Victor Treviño has activated the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as rising Rio Grande floodwaters dislodge 10 buoys, sending them to both the American and Mexican sides of the river.Treviño said flooding is the primary concern and described the city...
Key takeaway Victor Treviño has activated the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as rising Rio Grande floodwaters dislodge 10 buoys, sending them to both the American and Mexican sides of the river.
Why this matters in Laredo News
The dislodged Rio Grande buoys pose a significant threat to Laredo's infrastructure and residents, particularly those living in the Azteca neighborhoods and downtown areas. As the city's Emergency Operations Center is activated, it's crucial for residents to heed Mayor Treviño's warnings and stay away from the river's edge. The fact that debris carried by the high water is also a danger to those near the river underscores the need for vigilance. Congressman Cuellar's concerns about the buoy program are well-founded, given the potential catastrophic consequences if the buoys were to bunch together. The city's response, described as "all-hands-on-deck," will be closely watched as the situation unfolds. Residents will be looking to see how effectively state and federal partners work together to mitigate the risks and prevent damage to the city's infrastructure. The contractor's decision to decline retrieval of the buoys near the Max Mandel Golf Course has raised questions about priorities, and it remains to be seen how this will impact the city's response to the crisis.
About this story
Original reporting by KGNS (NBC/ABC affiliate) — Local News . Laredo News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KGNS (NBC/ABC affiliate) — Local News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 18, 2026 ·
Source: KGNS (NBC/ABC affiliate) — Local News ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Laredo Mayor Dr. Victor Treviño has activated the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as rising Rio Grande floodwaters dislodge 10 buoys, sending them to both the American and Mexican sides of the river.Treviño said flooding is the primary concern and described the city...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 18, 2026 by KGNS (NBC/ABC affiliate) — Local News and curated for Laredo News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Juan Puente at KGNS (NBC/ABC affiliate) — Local News. To learn more about how Laredo News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from Laredo News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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