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CNN Live Today

Interview With San Antonio Mayor Ed Garza

Aired July 05, 2002 - 12:25   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: On to Texas now where the problem there is too much water. Heavy flooding in central Texas prompted President Bush to declare ten counties disaster areas. Now officials are warily eying the Canyon Lake Dam outside San Antonio. Water from the spillway could cause even more flooding. Roy Galvan with CNN affiliate KMOL joins us from Canyon Lake with the very latest from there. Hi there.

ROY GALVAN, KMOL CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, it's been extraordinary and a historical two days for the folks at the Texas hill country. For the first time ever, the Canyon Dam has spilled over sending tens of thousands of gallons of water into the Guadalupe River.

Now that water starting hitting the homes along the river around three o'clock this morning. We were there when the water started engulfing homes all along the riverbanks, water rushing through these houses that were just rebuilt back from the flood of '98. Now these very same homeowners are watching their new homes being swept away by this ravaging flood that is going through the hill country right now.

The good news for now for these residents is that it has stopped raining but they do expect another three inches in this area, and that means the Guadalupe River will continue to rise. So the situation gets worse for the folks in the Texas hill country.

WHITFIELD: All right, Roy Galvan, not the news that people wanted to hear. Thank you very much.

Well, thousands of people, as Roy was saying, are trying to get out of the danger zone. The raging flow of water in central Texas has forced evacuations and caused at least seven deaths. San Antonio Mayor Ed Garza joins us on the telephone. Good afternoon, Mayor.

MAYOR ED GARZA, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS: Good afternoon.

WHITFIELD: Well, what are the biggest concerns about those that are most vulnerable?

GARZA: Well, we have different degrees of rescue operations but primarily at this point, fortunately we were able to get the word out. Those that were affected earlier in the week and then those that are affected now on the outside, outlying areas of San Antonio, so at this point, we've been focusing primarily on the assessment and also providing immediate financial assistance where possible in the short term and then working with FEMA and the other state and federal agencies for long-term assistance.

WHITFIELD: Now particularly for those people in communities downstream from the Canyon Lake Dam, more specifically the New Braunfels town of 36,000, how concerned are people in that area? Have they been evacuated? Are they part of the evacuation plan thus far?

GARZA: Yes, yesterday most of the communities along the Guadalupe River were given notice to evacuate and we're having the same situation just west of San Antonio as well in Medina Lake, the same similar situation has occurred there and the communities along the Medina River have also been given notice yesterday to evacuate, cities of Castroville and other small rural communities, so it's on both sides of San Antonio.

Fortunately, in the immediate San Antonio area, we seem to have overcome the worst and we're now focusing just on cleaning up and building on the opportunities for tomorrow.

WHITFIELD: Now, we're looking at live pictures right now, seeing an awful lot of homes with water to their rooftops. I understand another big problem that you've experienced in that region has also been a lot of washed out roads, particularly a bridge over the Guadalupe River has already been washed away.

GARZA: Yes, these are very strong moving waters that really give little regard to any roadways or highways for that matter. These are powerful. The warnings have been made to anybody living along the Guadalupe or Medina Rivers and some of the other smaller creeks to evacuate and get to higher ground because this has been a record storm, similar to the '98 storms that we had. The only difference is, this has lasted a whole lot longer and even as early as today, we continue to have more rain in the area and we're hoping that it just lightens up a little bit.

WHITFIELD: Now these pictures we're looking at, which are truly remarkable from our affiliate KENS, this aerial view, we're able to see you know these rivers turn into lakes, completely engulf these communities. Now, for those people who didn't respect the evacuation orders, how are you able to get to them because there are always a few folks who don't heed the warning?

GARZA: Unfortunately, there are.

And, in this case, no one can say enough warning wasn't given in most of these areas. But what it does is then forces rescue efforts to take place. But at this point, most of the communities are watching the floodwaters move through their areas, unfortunately destroying a lot of homes. And we really don't have a whole lot of information in terms of any rescue efforts.

But I know that the surrounding communities will be working with their counties and the state to provide rescue efforts, should there need to be some. WHITFIELD: Now, what about accommodations? Already since Monday, you have gotten some 25 inches of rain. And now, as we heard from our reporter out in the field there, Roy, he tells us another 3 inches are expected.

GARZA: Yes, we continue to see the waves, and somewhat more in the afternoon. But the ground is saturated all across Central South Texas around the San Antonio metropolitan area. So, any rain we do get quickly becomes a problem.

And so we have cautioned people, as they continue to drive out. Fortunately, because of the holiday, we have more people at home even today and through the weekend. But there will be very little traveling for motorists to and from the surrounding San Antonio area. But, as for the city itself in San Antonio, we seem to be beyond the worst part in terms of the flooding. But we are not letting our guard now. We are continuing to monitor the situation. And we'll be working with all the regional partners to provide relief where it is needed.

WHITFIELD: All right, thank you very much, San Antonio Mayor Ed Garza, for joining us on the telephone. Best of luck to you.

In all now, 10 counties that have been declared disaster areas because of the water that just doesn't seem to stop coming in that Central Texas area. Thank you very much and best of luck to you.

GARZA: Thank you.

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