EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 Two decades have passed since the 2006 floods that left El Paso in destruction.<\/p>\n
On Aug. 1, 2006 rainfall fell on El Paso causing floods to damage more than 300 homes and destroying dozens of streets.<\/p>\n
When looking back on the floods, Alejandra Chavez, City Council Representative for District 1, remembers water rushing down with force onto North Mesa Street taking down a Blockbuster store on the corner of North Mesa and Thunderbird.<\/p>\n
“I just remember it was a crazy time because El Pasoans weren’t used to dealing with floods. At that time we understood we probably were not prepared for that amount of stormwater,” Chavez said.<\/p>\n
Special Operations Division Battalion Chief Brandon Kovach was just getting on the job when the floods took place in 2006.<\/p>\n
“That was a very long day for us as far as call volume was concerned, I think we worked into the late hours and saw some amazing things that the weather did that day,” Chief Kovach said.<\/p>\n
The devastation revealed for the city a need for better drainage plans in El Paso and transformed the city’s approach to stormwater management.<\/p>\n
WATCH: 10 Years Following the 2006 Floods<\/p>\n
FILE: 2016 floods<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
According to El Paso Water officials, the 2006 floods caused over $315 million in damages across the city. In response, City Council established the stormwater utility in 2008 and gave El Paso Water the responsibility for the city’s stormwater system.<\/p>\n
Since 2008, EP Water has invested more than $400 million in stormwater infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Now, the El Paso Fire Department has a water rescue team equipped with three water rescue vehicles and three city-owned boats, according to Chief Kovach.<\/p>\n
Gilbert Trejo, Vice President of Operations and Technical Services for El Paso Water, said although not all areas of El Paso experience the same flooding conditions, residents should understand there is still a need for continued infrastructure improvements, even if those projects are not always visible.<\/p>\n
“There’s some people who experienced 2006 in its full wrath and fury, and there is some people who didn’t. Depending who we ask, some people say these projects are long overdue and they thank us for it. Other folks still wonder why they have to pay a stormwater fee every month,” Trejo said. “But the reality is that stormwater is a core public service that El Pasoans deserve.”<\/p>\n
Trejo emphasized how stormwater improvements protect residents, adding that EP Water will continue investing in the city’s infrastructure.<\/p>\n
“It is important to protect property, public health and safety\u2014to protect commuters to allow them to get to work and school every day. The message to our customers and to El Pasoans throughout is that there is still a lot of work to be done,” Trejo said.<\/p>\n
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