El Paso County issued disaster declaration after Horizon City flooding

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso County officials issued a disaster declaration in response to severe weather and flooding that have damaged property and forced evacuations in Horizon City.

El Paso County Judge Ricardo A. Samaniego held a press conference Tuesday at 2 p.m. on the third floor of the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse, where he announced a local disaster declaration tied to recent flooding.

The county experienced significant rainfall on Oct. 23 and Oct. 25, which officials said resulted in severe flooding, property damage and the evacuation of numerous residents from their homes.

Samaniego said that up to 60 homes have been affected.

With more rain expected this week, officials said concerns remain about continued flooding, land erosion and further property damage.

The disaster declaration is being issued under Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code. The county said it will activate emergency management and recovery efforts and authorize the use of available county resources to assist affected residents, protect public safety and address impacts from the severe weather.

During the press conference, County Commissioner Iliana Holguin said that with the declaration, crews will be able to not just drain water and clean debris from public roads, but also help private properties.

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County Commissioners press conference on Horizon flooding (Credit: KFOX14/CBS4)

Holguin also said that with the declaration, the County will be able to jump over the required steps of the “purchasing acts,” allowing the County to buy emergency services and equipment– and even daily essentials for affected residents– faster.

Holguin also explained that the County is looking into state and federal grants to see if that money could be used.

According to Holguin, residents should keep track of all expenses and damages incurred by the flooding in case funding becomes available.

Holguin also shared an update on the flooding in Horizon, saying that the Office of Emergency Management, the Sheriff’s Office, the County’s Public Works Department, and Emergency Services District #1 have all been out there since Monday working to mitigate the flooding and moving residents to a shelter set up at Horizon High School.

“I believe only a couple of families chose to utilize the shelter yesterday, but the shelter will remain open for several more days if more families choose to utilize it,” Holguin added.

Nine water vacuum trucks have been out there since Monday collecting the standing water.

“It’s so much water; it’s unfortunately going to take some time,” Holguin said, adding that the declaration could speed the process up.

Holguin said a list of resources will be personally handed to those affected so they know the help available to them.

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is also said to be working with the Texas Department of Public Safety to use their helicopter to figure out where the water came from.

Meanwhile, in a separate press conference, Deputy Chief Brandon Kovach of the Emergency District Services #1 of the Horizon Fire Department provided an update on the flooding.

According to Kovach, 34 homes are affected, 13 homes have been evacuated, 20 families have sheltered in place, and from the fire department’s initial assessment, there are 10 to 12 homes that have moderate to major damage.

While there was some confusion on where the flooding came from, Kovach said the water came down from the Hueco Tank Mountains.

“What ended up happening was an accumulation of water that formed over the Hueco Tank Mountains and then ended up pooling down that, ending up coming down, and ending up becoming a stream and finding a low spot here in this community,” Kovach explained.

Kovach said there is a shelter for those who are impacted by the flooding at Horizon High School and will be aviale until Saturday.

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Emergency officials give an update on Horizon flooding (Credit: KFOX14/CBS4)

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