Rain Floods Parts Of El Paso — Again

EL PASO, Texas (AP) – Cars with water up to their wheel wells were stranded on an interstate access road Wednesday, a day after President Bush declared this West Texas city a federal disaster area because of recent flooding.

Police blocked some freeway exit ramps to keep cars from flooded areas.

An El Paso police spokesman said there had been numerous calls about the latest flooding, but no reports of major damage or injuries.

The Rio Grande, which runs between El Paso and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, was swelling as the rain continued to fall.

Flooding has also been reported in other parts of El Paso County, an area hit hard two weeks ago when it was inundated with nearly 15 inches of rain – almost twice the area’s annual rainfall – in about a week.

On Tuesday, Bush declared El Paso a disaster area, opening the door for federal aid after rock and mud slides exacerbated the flooding damage.

City officials believe as many as 300 homes were destroyed in the first round of flooding.

Preliminary estimates put the damage at more than $100 million.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-08-16-06 1753EDT