Widespread flooding hits Texas
Pastor Dale Morgan
Widespread flooding hits Texas *
By ALICIA A. CALDWELL Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, August 01, 2006 2:41 p.m. ET
EL PASO, Texas (AP) -- A third day of heavy rains created widespread
flooding Tuesday, shutting down government offices and closing portions
of major roadways.
Volunteer fire departments around the county were helping residents
sandbag their homes, and in some cases evacuate.
Heavy rains more than doubled the normal current speed in the Rio Grande
and raised the water level near the banks on both sides, authorities said.
The parched region, which had less than an inch of rain in the first six
months of the year, has possibly received as much as 6 inches of rain
since Sunday, the National Weather Service said.
Forecasters expect the rain to last through at least until Wednesday
morning. The flooding has flooded cars and overwhelmed emergency crews,
but there were no reports of major injuries or fatalities.
Off-duty personnel have been called in to work to ensure that enough
crews are available to respond to the onslaught of emergency calls, said
Lt. Mario Hernandez of the El Paso Fire Department.