City & County Office of Emergency Management
Carlos Carmona
El Paso Fire Department Deputy Chief
8500 Montana Ave.
El Paso, Texas 79925
Phone (915) 771-1011
Fax (915) 771-1026
oem@elpasotexas.gov
Office of Emergency Management
- Flash Floods in El Paso
- Flash floods are a powerful force of nature common to the Southwest region, especially during a Monsoon rain season. Storms can occur suddenly and deliver vast amounts of water to the desert floor and area mountains. The rain washing from the mountains is channeled to natural drainage canals, called arroyos. The volume and force of the water increases as it flows to lower elevations, turning a dry, dormant arroyo into a raging river of water.
- The following incident occurred in East El Paso in June 1999.
- Download Movie here (11MB)
A small vehicle approaches an active arroyo in East El Paso. 
The driver picks up speed in an attempt to cross the arroyo where there was once a street. 
The force of the water sweeps the car away. 
The vehicle is pushed into a hole. 
Water completely envelopes the vehicle with two passengers inside. 
The force of the water starts to flip the car over. Notice the passenger attempting an escape. 
The driver emerges from the partially-submerged car. 
The passenger narrowly escapes being crushed as the water continues to roll the vehicle. 
The destroyed car settles into the rushing water and awaits the end of the storm.