Damaged Wall Could Drive Family From Home For Months

by ABC-7 Reporter Darren Hunt

EL PASO, Texas — A massive rock wall in danger of collapsing has led to the evacuation of a family in West El Paso. It could be months before they are allowed back home.

A wall towering above the homes on Colina Alta has formed cracks due to a drainage problem that has persisted for years. The wall caused problems during Storm 2006 as well as in last week’s flooding.

The Paz-Rueda family has been living in fear of this wall collapsing on their home since shortly after moving there three years ago.

“It’s sad. I’m from Miami and so I’ve been through hurricanes, and this, to be honest with you, has been the most traumatizing thing,” Susi Paz-Rueda said.

The Paz-Rueda family has tried everything to try and fix this problem, including installing this rock wall back in January. But the weight of the wall from above has already caused this wall to bow.

“It’s been a headache. It’s been a nightmare,” Paz-Rueda said.

Temporary fixes and clean-ups forced the family to take out a $30,000 loan, and now the city is telling them they have to get out. But for how long?

“We’re trying to mobilize as quickly as possible. Next week, I think, is the target and from there, depending on the scope that’s established as part of this assessment we’re looking at anywhere between 30 to 60 days of construction,” Julie Lozano, spokeswoman for the City of El Paso, said.

Paz-Rueda said she’s still not sure where her family will go until the problem can be fixed. In the meantime, she would like the city to help out with alternate housing.

“We’re not asking for the Four Seasons, just putting us in a hotel for a while,” she said.

A source close to this situation said part of the problem here is that the former resident of this property had a broken sprinkler behind that wall. The owner, who is in California, may be liable for all this damage.