Monday, August 7th, 2006 — More than 15 inches of rain — nearly twice the annual average — has fallen in El Paso since July 27th, and the deluge sent mud and rocks cascading into some parts of the city destroying as many as 300 homes and causing an estimated $100 million in damage. Engineers have determined that none of the city’s drainage systems, dams or reservoirs failed and state officials have asked President Bush to declare El Paso a disaster area, a necessary step for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to begin providing aid.