Storm Victims Worried about Looters

Sheriff set up mini-task force to patrol areas

ALTON - Some families in Alton devastated by last night's storms still refuse to leave their homes.

We spoke to Loudres Jaramillo this morning. She was worried about her mother, family, and home. Deputies suggested she take all her family to a nearby shelter. But a few hours we spoke to her and her family. They told us they had no intention of visiting a shelter.

She says she's worried about criminals.

NEWSCHANNEL 5 visited a shelter set up by the county's health department. We say a few people inside filling out paperwork, but not one of them was sticking around.

"A lot of the people do not want to evacuate their homes that are really unlivable... because they are scared that somebody is going to loot them," explains Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino.

The county decided to address the residents' concerns with a mini-task force. About 20 deputies are walking the streets. They have two command centers and are patrolling on ATVs.

We wanted to know if that was enough for worried residents. Jaramillo says she might go to a shelter, but she still couldn't tell us when.