CONTINUING COVERAGE: Flooding in North Texas

[TexasStooge]

City seeks flood control funds in Washington

By CHRIS HEINBAUGH / WFAA ABC 8

DALLAS, Texas - Dallas Mayor Laura Miller will head a delegation this week to Washington in search for federal help in flood control and storm drain projects. However, the city may have a tough time of it.

While the city wants help to continue the Trinity River Project, creating wetlands and lakes to give the water inside the levee somewhere to go, they also want help with the city's storm drain pump system. The drain pump system was overwhelmed March 19. Finding that help however takes money, and in Washington that's running into short supply.

When the rain came down March 19th, water backed up against the levees and flooded West Dallas and other areas. The city's pumps were not enough.

"Last weekend they were pumping at full capacity and we still were not able to get all the water out that we could," said Rebecca Dugger, Trinity River Project manager.

But more pumps are just a few of the things needed to boost the city's ability to handle major rain and flooding events, which is why the city is heading to Washington looking for help.

Most pressing on their trip is to find funds for the upper chain of wetlands on the Trinity and a partnership commitment from the federal government to help build the lakes in the Trinity River Project as well as adding new storm drain pumps along the levees.

Council member Ed Oakley is going to DC and he said the recent flooding in Dallas adds urgency to this request.

"We dodged the bullet last week," Oakley said. "... Hopefully it will be a little bit easier to make the congressional delegation understand. We've got pictures."

Getting federal flood control funds is getting tough since Hurricane Katrina, which made many cities realize their flood control systems are inadequte and many are asking for help.

"So, every city that has any kind of water front [and] any kind of flooding issues is standing in line with us to get those federal funds," Dugger said.

City officials said they hope the years of planning already done for Trinity River Project combined with the recent floods will give Dallas the edge.

[TexasStooge]

More storms head to North Texas

From WFAA ABC 8 Staff Reports

While many across North Texas spent Thursday afternoon recovering from a lack of sleep from noisy storms the night before, there were also those preparing for possible flooding in the evening.

Many in a neighborhood east of downtown Dallas said they were nervous about the night rain after a Sunday night of rain in March left many flooded.

Jason Hillman said he already replaced his carpet three times since he has moved in after water found its way inside.

"They just keep tearing up the carpet and replacing it, and they haven't yet come up with a permanent fix," he said.

Bin Thai said his car got the brunt during March's heavy rain.

"This was like a two week old car," he said while surveying the damage. "It still has the new car smell though."

Dozens of trees also became casualties after 78 mph winds gusted through the area. A tree in front of the Belo Mansion that was estimated to be at least 100 years old was among those destroyed.

TXU also said they prepared for the second round of storms as it worked to restore neighborhoods impacted by Wednesday night's weather.

An estimated 21,000 houses and businesses still had no power around 6:00 p.m. Thursday. At the height of the thunderstorms overnight, nearly 80,000 customers were in the dark.

TXU said its crews were working as safely and quickly as possible to serve everyone, but upcoming weather could bring more problems.

Around fifty traffic lights were said to possibly remain unlit for up to 24 hours until traffic controls could be reset.

Grapevine High School and Colleyville Heritage High both were let out early after the electricity went out. They were only two of the six Grapevine-Colleyville schools that lost power during Wednesday night's storm, but elementary and middle schools stayed in session for safety reasons.

All the campuses power was restored and TAKS tests that were delayed would be will be given Friday, authorities said.

Dan Ronan contributed to this report
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