As of today, the entire community is entering the 15th day of an ongoing weather emergency event. Since Thursday, July 27 the City & County of El Paso have received over 15 inches of rainfall -- nearly twice the average.

City, County, State and Federal agencies have mobilized to deploy all available assets and resources to assist the community in life and property protection, damage response and repair and an aggressive ongoing cleanup effort.

A. CURRENT SITUATION:

A break in the weather has allowed the area to recover from the rain saturation somewhat. The community is still vulnerable to further damage if rain returns and the weather forecast calls for a 20% chance of thunderstorms this evening and a chance of thunderstorms continuing into the night.

Ongoing efforts focus on temporary repairs to streets, waterways, and draining flooded areas. Additionally, the local health authority is analyzing water samples, cautioning citizens against playing or entering standing water, and vector control. The city has one reported case of West Nile Virus. A concern addressed to the DDC is that the local health authority has very limited staffing to conduct vector control operations. The local Health Department met with Emergency Management, Texas Department of State Health Services, and staff from Ciudad Juarez concerning vector control operations.

City of El Paso - Fire and Police operations have returned to normal. Each Fire Station has over 200 sand bags, with several in different parts of town having over 500. Environmental Services has presently removed 69.31 tons of debris from Aug 2 to Aug 7.

Village of Vinton -

City/County Health received a request to test the water wells at Vinton. They also asked for Vector Control at Kiely Road by the Trailer Park due to mosquito infestation. Ponding area at Iron and Steel needing pumped out. We informed Mr. Robert Rivera of County Roads & Bridges and asked him to take care of and call Jessica from Vinton. Not done as of yet. Salvation Army plans on shutting down the canteen on Saturday.

Horizon City –

The Municipal Utility District (Water) reports damage to the sewage plant. Additionally they have a loss to a water well over by Eastlake Blvd and Gateway West. Some storm damage reported at the High School. No needs at this time.

Town of Anthony –

No needs at this time.

Town of Clint –

City-County Health is conducting vector control operations.

City of Socorro –

Operations continue to revolve around removal of debris and dirt from the street. The National Guard continues to operate in the area. TXDOT resources are no longer in use. Three trucks from County Roads and Bridges responded to help pump out Valley Ridge Subdivision and Valle Park in the Valle del Sol subdivision. Vector control is needed in some ponding areas around Socorro Middle School on Bovee and Sanchez Middle School in Rio Vista subdivision.

County of El Paso –

no needs at this time.

Westway –

currently all roads passable. County Roads and Bridges will return next week and perform more permanent repairs. Finishing cleanup.

Canutillo –

finished pumping. Corrected minor erosion problems. Street cleanup continuing. County Roads and Bridges is finishing cleanup.

Sparks –

working on erosion problems.

El Paso County Road and Bridges continue to repair roads and drainage structures in East El Paso County.

Emergency Operations Center –

will begin to operate from 0700 to 2359 hours schedule

B. AREAS AFFECTED:

County of El Paso, City of El Paso, Village of Vinton, City of Socorro, Town of Anthony, Horizon City, Town of Clint

C. RESPONDING AGENCIES/ORGANIZATIONS:

Local:

• El Paso Fire – on standby for any further flooding and rescue calls. Worked with the Street department to fill and stock sandbags. At least 200 sandbags are available at each fire station now.

• Police – provided traffic control and protection for street crews and damaged streets

• Emergency Services District #1 and #2 - on standby for any further flooding and rescue calls

• El Paso Sheriffs Office - provided traffic control and protection for street crews and damaged streets

• El Paso City-County Health – Monitoring the effects of the floods on public health, vector control, and shelter and food inspections. Vector control fogging is on going at night. We received approval to use those individuals that have training and experience to do fogging this will add an additional 6 employees to the schedule. During the day larvicide's are being applied to the standing water through the City. Water Samples are being collected through the City in ponds and areas of concern. We fogged the Vinton area last night and inspectors are looking into a tire service center in the area that has several tires stacked outside. We continue to work with the State Vet concerning the issues in the lower valley and are waiting his update. We are meeting with TCEQ this am to develop a plan to move forward as quickly as we can in getting some answers to all the complaints.

• Canutillo School District – providing shelter support operations in Canutillo

• Local Street Departments – cleanup of streets, arroyos, culverts, and debris removal

• El Paso County Roads and Bridges – cleanup of streets, arroyos, culverts, and debris removal

• El Paso Housing Authority – intake for future housing assistance

State: Texas Governors Division of Emergency Management; Texas Department of Public Safety; TXDOT; Adult Protective Services; Mental Health and Mental Retardation; Texas National Guard; Texas Department of State Health Services

Federal: FEMA

Other:

• American Red Cross – currently assisting families in the Canutillo shelter, performing damage assessments, and giving away

• Salvation Army – recovery operations, feeding, and running a canteen

• Southern Baptist Men – feeding and recovery operations

D. CASUALTIES:

None reported

E. ESTIMATED DAMAGES:

• Preliminary damage assessments on major impacted areas are as follows:

o Public Infrastructure - $21 Million

o Private Property ( residential & commercial)- $77 Million

o Flood control/landfill - $3.5 Million

• 1515 homes damaged in the City & County

o 766 homes minor damage

o 455 homes major damage

o 295 homes have been destroyed

• 53 commercial properties damaged

o 14 minor damage

o 24 major damage

o 15 destroyed

• Drainage facilities damaged

o 17 drainage channels

o 3 pump stations

• Roadways & streets damaged

o 100 damaged roadways

F. EVACUATIONS:

No new evacuations today

G. SHELTERS:

Canutillo Shelter remains open with 42 occupants

H. ROAD CLOSURES:

• Working at 19 flooded intersections and have either barricaded or posted officers on site. Barricaded areas are rechecked hourly to ensure exclusion of traffic.

• El Paso Police has updated their intersection list as follows:

o Central Command:

o Montana / Marr

o I-10 East and West at Piedras (Left Lane Only for road repairs) as reported by TXDOT

o Downtown Mesa Exit (Right Lane Only - for road repairs) as reported TXDOT

o Pebble Hills Command:

o 2900 Wedgewood

o Henry Brennan and Esther Lama

o West Side Command:

o Pinar del Rion – Redd Road Reservoir

o 6400-6700 Easy Way

o Mission Valley Command:

o None Reported

o Northeast Command

o 3700 blk Lincoln

o 3700 blk McKelligon Canyon Rd/Alabama

I. UTILITY OUTAGES:

• Phone service – most phone service has returned to normal. Sporadic outages still present.

• El Paso Water Dept - They state they only have two households in the WestWay area that are still without service, and they are hoping to get them resolved today.

• El Paso Electric: The only area that is without electricity is the Doniphan and Mowad area. They are working on it today

• Texas Gas Service: No reports of homes without gas service

J. COMMENTS

The Salvation Army has also assisted the City, County & Cuidad Juarez with food, clothing, cleaning supplies and other necessities.

The Salvation Army is leading a major community service effort called “Operation AYUDA.” This is a collaborative effort by the Salvation Army, Red Cross & the Housing Authority.

Operation AYUDA will assist those in need that have been affected by the storm with housing, clean up, financial & other community services.

On Tuesday August 8, 2006 starting at 10 am at the Judson F. Williams Convention Center a centralized intake center opened to allow residents to give their information and find out how to receive assistance with their various needs.

The intake center will be open Monday – Friday, 10 am – 7 pm

A new website has been created to assist in keeping everyone informed.

To get up to date information or phone numbers please visit the City website at: www.elpasotexas.gov/storm/default.asp

The Federal Declaration is critical to our recovery! We will work closely with federal leaders to secure the emergency declaration to assist in recovery and rebuilding the City & County of El Paso.