El Paso officially registered a little more than a quarter of an inch of rain at the airport Sunday evening, but that was a very different story in other parts of town.
Heavy rain caused dangerous flooding and traffic nightmares across town, especially along the Interstate 10 in downtown El Paso.
Video recorded by Jonah Ayala shows flooding on Wyoming Ave near the interstate. Stalled vehicles are seen in the standing floodwater. Texas Department of Transportation officials posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Sunday at 8:23 p.m. that the entrance ramp to I-10 East at Wyoming were “closed due to flooding.”
That wasn’t the only area on the freeway that was closed. TXDOT closed four lanes on I-10 West at Piedras due to high water, causing backup to Copia.
KTSM reached out to local TXDOT officials asking why there was standing water on the freeway. A statement explained the cause of the water buildup and their emergency procedures.
“TxDOT designs roadways to manage runoff from our paved surface. When a community storm system is overwhelmed by large amounts of rain in a short period, or becomes clogged by litter and debris during a storm causing a roadway to become unsafe or impassible, TxDOT will close the roadway until the water recedes or can be removed, and will reopen the roadway once it is safe again. El Paso Water and TxDOT work together in emergency situations to reopen roadways as quickly as possible, as was the case Sunday evening.
We recommend people remain weather-aware and don’t go out in a storm unless they absolutely have to. Drivers should slow down, increase following distance, keep headlights on, and never drive through standing or rushing water. (Standing water can hide dangerous debris, potholes, or missing pavement. Even less than a foot of fast-moving water can wash away a truck.) Make sure windshield wipers are in good working order, there is plenty of tread on tires, and don’t use cruise control or you could lose control.”
Jennifer Wright – Texas Department of Transportation
TxDOT emphasized cooperation with El Paso Water (EPWater) in managing such emergencies, and EPWater confirmed they were dispatched Sunday night to help clear standing water on I-10 near Downtown.
In a statement to KTSM, Denise Parra, spokesperson for El Paso Water, explained that a power outage impacted the Dallas Pump Station, located near I-10 and Palm Street facility used to remove stormwater from the roads.
“On Sunday evening, El Paso Water responded to help remove standing water on Interstate 10 near Downtown El Paso. EP Water works closely with TXDOT to assist in these types of emergencies. A power outage impacted operation of the Dallas Pump Station located near I-10 and Palm Street. Pump stations are crucial in working to move stormwater downstream and off the roadways.
As EP Water continues to improve stormwater infrastructure, mother nature can still present challenges. Sunday night’s intense storm brought more than an inch of rain to central El Paso in a short amount of time. To keep EP Water staff safe, crews will be dispatched after the rain has stopped to begin operations.
We also want to remind drivers to wait out the storm. EP Water is also aware of videos circulating on social media that show drivers attempting to drive through barriers and into flooded roadways. We urge drivers to stay aware of their surroundings during heavy rain events to stay safe.”
Denise Parra – El Paso Water
According to KTSM meteorologist Robert Bettes, more rain is expected this week. Always remember: Turn Around, Don’t Drown.
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