Rain-Swollen River Backs Up Into Downtown Neighborhood

EL PASO, Tx. – Overnight and early Tuesday morningrains in southern New Mexico sent water surging downstream through the Borderland early Tuesday evening.

Emergency crews tell ABC-7 thatminor flooding has occurred across several blocks in downtown El Paso. They add that only two homes in the Chihuahuaita area are actually taking on water.

Officials say the reason for the water on downtown streets and homes is due to the river backing up into city drains. The National Weather Service had predicted that the river would crest late Tuesday afternoon, fed by waters from rain and runoff north of El Paso.

The water was forecast to reach 8.5 feet, or flood stage, at around 4pm Tuesday. Officials say the highest it hit appears to have reached is just under eight feet and all the new water stayed within the levees.

Despite the lower-than-predicted level, water moved into parts of South El Paso. Video shot by ABC-7 crews in the Chihuahuita neighborhood near downtown showed flooding calf-high.

As a result of the back up, city crews with pumping unitswere dispatched to the scene, to begin draining water from the area. Crews were on scene all night, removing water and watching the river level.

Across the river in Juarez, at least one playground alongside the channel had flooded due to the rising waters.