April 5, 2004
The Associated Press

Parts of Texas and New Mexico braced for more rain Monday after weekend thunderstorms gave rise to swift floods that drove dozens of people from their homes, closed roads and collapsed an interstate bridge.

More than 40 of the 100 residents of Toyah, Texas, had to be evacuated early Sunday when arroyos and ravines that carve up the land filled all at once and came together to break an earthen dam. A wall of water 3 feet high rushed through town, forcing out even Toyah's own emergency crews. Water 18 inches deep still ran through the streets late Sunday.

Not far from Toyah, law enforcement officers had warning that the eastbound Interstate 20 bridge was about to crumble and were able to close the road before it collapsed. Authorities also shut down a nearby Union Pacific Railroad bridge.

In Crystal City, about 80 miles southwest of San Antonio, hail slightly smaller than golf balls pummeled the city.

A grocery store roof collapsed and at least 25 homes had broken windows, said police Chief Luis Contreras.

"I've never seen something like that," Police Chief Luis Contreras said. "I guess it's real heavy. Buildings and carports were just caving in."

Fort Stockton had so much hail that it stood a foot deep and looked like snow, said fire Chief Melvin Thomas. The water, he said, was bumper deep on cars and forced about 30 residents to leave their homes.

"We had a lot of rain and lots of hail," Thomas said.

In New Mexico, snow mixed with hail and rain to create havoc across much of the state. Gov. Bill Richardson late Sunday ordered state agencies to be prepared to assist areas hardest hit.

In Carlsbad, as much as 2 feet of water rushed down some streets, and about a dozen residents isolated by flooded roads were evacuated early Sunday, said Liz Baggs, a spokeswoman for Carlsbad's Emergency Management Office. Most residents were back home by nightfall.

But with more rain in the forecast, officials were telling residents in low-lying areas to be ready to leave. Carlsbad schools were also on a two-hour delay Monday.

"It's flooding. It's hailing. You name it and we're getting it," said Carlsbad resident Kathy Kelly. "It's been three days now."

The storms forced the closing of several roads in the Carlsbad and Hobbs areas, including state and U.S. highways.

In northern New Mexico, more than 1,000 customers of the Mora-San Miguel County Electric Cooperative were in the dark for a second day Sunday after up to 2 feet of snow fell in the area.

Crews had restored power to some customers by late Sunday and were to get help Monday from surrounding cooperatives, said General Manager Ernesto Gonzales.

In Albuquerque, crews were fixing sinkholes that opened up because of the rain.

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2004-04-04-southwest-storm_x.htm