Storm guide · El Paso County, Texas

El Paso flooding, October 2026: what to check in a home that took water

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By the Honest Mold Test Editorial Team · Researched from authoritative sources (incl. EPA and NWS guidance) · Published October 2026

Two rounds of storms hit El Paso County in three days. On the evening of Saturday, October 24, a reservoir overflowed near Dawnlight in Northwest El Paso and sent water and mud through the Enchanted Hills neighborhood. The City of El Paso Office of Emergency Management activated the emergency operations center, 16 homes were evacuated with help from the American Red Cross and Sun Metro, and there was a water rescue on South Desert Boulevard (KFOX14 and KVIA, October 24 and 25). Residents were back in their homes the next day, but District 1 city representative Alejandra Chávez said one family was displaced because their home is no longer habitable, and neighbors described mud and rocks across properties along the block (KFOX14, KVIA, October 25).

A second round came overnight Sunday into Monday, October 26, under several National Weather Service flash flood warnings. Calls to 911 reported water flooding a home and an apartment on the east side of the county near Socorro and Sparks, Montana Avenue flooded near Desert Haven Road, and vehicles stuck in water (NWS El Paso local storm reports, October 26). If water or mud got into your house, garage or apartment, this page is for you. You may not need to spend anything on mold. Here is how to tell.

The first 48 hours: what matters

EPA guidance is that wet building materials dried within 24 to 48 hours usually do not grow mold. El Paso's dry air helps, but only on surfaces that air can reach. Water trapped behind baseboards, under flooring, or in the bottom of walls can stay wet for days.

1. Photograph everything first. Water lines, mud, damaged items, and the street or arroyo the water came from. Insurers and any later claims rely on it.
2. Get mud and standing water out once it is safe. Shovel and hose out mud before it dries hard, then open windows and run fans. A dehumidifier is less necessary here than on the coast, but fans still matter.
3. Treat street and arroyo water as dirty water. Restoration standards treat floodwater from outside as contaminated, so carpet, pad, mattresses and upholstered furniture it soaked usually go. Hard surfaces can be washed and dried.
4. Check the bottom of the walls. Drywall that took water and stays soft or stained after two days usually comes out a foot or so above the water line. Insulation behind it is often wet too.
5. Check what sits low. Water heaters, furnaces, evaporative cooler lines, washer and dryer, and outlets near the floor. If flood water reached them, have them checked before you use them.

Do you need a mold test?

Often, no. If you can see mold, EPA says sampling is usually unnecessary: the job is to remove the wet material and fix the moisture. A test earns its cost when you smell mustiness but cannot find the source, when you are buying or selling, or when a landlord or insurer disputes what happened. Our cost guide lays out honest price ranges.

For a small area (EPA uses roughly 10 square feet as the line), most homeowners can handle cleanup themselves with gloves, an N95 and bagging the material. In Texas, mold remediation of 25 contiguous square feet or more generally must be done by a remediator licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (tdlr.texas.gov). An inexpensive moisture meter will tell you more than a mold test in the first few weeks.

Insurance: what usually applies

• Most homeowners and renters policies exclude flood, and that includes rainwater and mud that flowed in from outside. Flood coverage comes from a separate flood policy (NFIP or private).
• Water that came through a damaged roof or window during the storm can be handled differently from water that flowed in at ground level. Read the exact policy language or ask your agent.
• If you have flood insurance, report the damage now and keep the photos and receipts for cleanup supplies and drying equipment.
• New NFIP policies usually have a 30-day waiting period, so a policy bought now would not cover this event.
• As of October 26, there is no federal disaster declaration for this flooding. Watch the City of El Paso and El Paso County websites for local assistance.

Is it urgent, or can you slow down? An honest triage

Renters: a Texas note

Texas Property Code section 92.052 requires a landlord to make a diligent effort to repair a condition that materially affects the physical health or safety of an ordinary tenant, once the tenant gives notice and is current on rent. Report water damage to your landlord in writing and keep a copy. See our renters guide.

A note on storm-chasing contractors

After flooding, door-knockers follow. Be wary of anyone who wants a large deposit up front, asks you to sign over insurance payments, pressures you to decide today, or will not give a written estimate. Get more than one quote, and for mold work check the remediator's license with TDLR.

Frequently asked

The water only covered my garage floor. Do I need to do anything?
Probably not much. Bare concrete dries on its own. Check the bottom of any drywall, stored boxes, and anything that sat on the floor.

Will bleach fix it?
Not on drywall or wood. Porous material with mold growth should be removed. Bleach is for hard, non-porous surfaces, and never mixed with ammonia.

The mud dried hard. Is it too late?
No. Break it up, remove it, and then check what is underneath. Flooring and the bottom of walls under dried mud can still be wet.