Northwest El Paso’s Enchanted Hills community is working to restore homes damaged by the Oct. 24 flood that forced the evacuation of 16 houses when a nearby reservoir overflowed and breached a rock wall on Dawnlight Lane.
Residents call for more assistance
Neighbors say they have received limited support from city officials. “Be accountable. Help us,” said Sergio Chavez, whose house suffered extensive damage, including loss of furniture, personal belongings and his vehicle. Chavez told ABC‑7 that he quit his job after the flood and now spends most of his waking hours cleaning his home, saying, “I haven’t stopped since the day of the flood.”
Ruben Hernandez, another resident, reported thousands of dollars in property damage and expressed frustration that the city’s response has not met the scale of the disaster.
Water Board cites system capacity limits
During a Nov. 10 meeting of the El Paso Water Board, Gisela Dagnino, who oversees the city’s storm‑water utility, explained that water levels during the event exceeded the design capacity of the existing drainage infrastructure. She noted that clogged drains in the neighborhood contributed to the severity of the flooding.
Board members acknowledged the need for improvements and indicated that the utility is reviewing the drainage system’s performance. Dagnino said the board will explore options to increase capacity and address maintenance issues that may have impeded water flow.
City actions and next steps
City officials have provided dumpsters and deployed two street‑sweepers to aid cleanup, but residents say additional resources are still required. Chavez urged the city to take full accountability and accelerate assistance.
The Water Board’s presentation included a request for funding to upgrade drainage components and to conduct a thorough inspection of the rock wall that failed during the overflow. While the board has not yet approved a specific budget allocation, it pledged to keep the community informed of progress.
Community resilience
Despite the challenges, Enchanted Hills residents remain committed to rebuilding. Local churches and neighborhood groups have organized volunteer clean‑up crews, reflecting the community’s strong family and faith values.
City leaders have encouraged residents to report any remaining hazards, such as standing water or blocked culverts, so that crews can address them promptly. The Water Board plans to hold another public meeting in December to update the neighborhood on planned infrastructure upgrades and to gather further input from affected homeowners.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
