August 1, 2026, marks the 20th anniversary of the historic flooding event that hit El Paso, Texas. The National Weather Service reported that between July 27 and August 4, 2006, El Paso experienced torrential rains, with 3 to 10 inches of rain falling in various areas, causing flooding and damage throughout the city.
Flooding Aftermath
The flooding forced the Rio Grande to overflow, reaching its highest level since 1912. The disaster created rivers in residential areas, severely damaged businesses and homes, and left cars stranded in roadways. The El Paso Office of Emergency Management reported over $200 million in damages to businesses and homes, with an additional $115 million in damages to the city’s stormwater system.
In response to the flooding, the El Paso City Council established the stormwater utility in 2008, giving El Paso Water broad authority and responsibility for the city’s stormwater system. Since then, El Paso Water has created several projects totaling $400 million in stormwater infrastructure, including the Will Ruth Pond in Northeast El Paso, which aims to capture stormwater runoff before it reaches neighborhoods.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
