Hidalgo County’s “Through the Storm with Sunny” Earns National Achievement Award

Edinburg, Hidalgo County Judge’s Office, NACo Achievement Award, Richard F. Cortez, Emergency Preparedness

Staff Report

Edinburg TX – The Hidalgo County Judge’s Office’s “Through the Storm with Sunny” program has been recognized with a 2026 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties, which honors innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.

Developed in response to a flash flooding event on March 27, 2025, the program is a puppet-based emotional preparedness initiative designed to help children understand and manage fear during severe weather events. Through storytelling, interactive activities, and simple coping strategies, the program teaches children to recognize emotions, build resilience, and feel safe during emergencies, while also equipping caregivers with tools to guide children through stressful situations.

Launched in 2025, the program has reached hundreds of children across Hidalgo County through library-based presentations in both urban and rural communities. Organizers said the program is distinguished by its focus on emotional preparedness for children, a component of disaster readiness they described as frequently overlooked, and that its adaptable format could be replicated in other communities facing severe weather risks.

Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez said the program was designed to address more than just factual knowledge about storms. “The goal of this program was never just to teach children about storms; it was to help them understand their feelings during those storms and give families tools to face emergencies together,” Cortez said. “This national recognition reflects the importance of preparing not only our infrastructure, but also the emotional well-being of our youngest residents.”

This summer, the program’s characters, Sunny and Stormy, returned with a new focus on hurricane preparedness, presenting at libraries across Hidalgo County to teach children age-appropriate ways to prepare for hurricanes and other severe weather. Organizers said the positive response has opened the door for the program to return in future seasons with new lessons for local children and families.

More information about NACo’s Achievement Awards is available at naco.org.

Source – Hidalgo County Judge’s Office