Hatch Begins To Recover After Rain Storm
HATCH, N.M. (AP) – Heavy equipment is removing mud in the village of Hatch today as cleanup efforts continue and residentsfrom flooding earlier this week.
The town was inundated when the banks of a diversion ditch failed Tuesday.
Governor Richardson has asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to make a preliminary damage assessment in the southern New Mexico community.
Hatch school officials say classes will remain closed through August 28th to allow the high school to be used as an emergency shelter and to let families work together on clean up.
Dona Ana County road crews also are busy in rural areas west of Las Cruces and in the communities of La Mesa and Chaparral.
Some businesses in Hatch have reopened after flooding that hit the community Tuesday.
The American Red Cross says some grocery stores and gas stations are open today.
Authorities are letting evacuated residents back into many areas to assess the damage and to begin cleanup and repair.
A spokesman for Dona Ana County says more than 100 buildings sustained serious damage when the banks of a diversion ditch failed, sending water rushing into the town.
Pumps are removing the flood water from low-lying areas of Hatch and putting it in canals.
Hatch officials say water line breaks that were repaired yesterday are holding and that two of the village’s three water collection tanks have refilled.
More rains are in the forecast.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-08-17-06 1309EDT
