3 missing, house swept away as flash flooding hits mountain village in New Mexico
RUIDOSO, NEW MEXICO, JUL 8 – Intense monsoon rains on wildfire burn scars caused a record 20-foot river crest and at least 85 swift-water rescues, killing three including two children, officials said.
- On Tuesday, torrential rain caused the Rio Ruidoso in Lincoln County, New Mexico, to crest at a preliminary record level of 20.24 feet, triggering flash floods that swept away homes and killed three people.
- The flooding was worsened by two wildfires in summer 2024 that left burn scars and stripped vegetation, increasing flood risks and causing water to flow into areas that did not flood last year.
- Emergency responders performed over 80 water rescues as residents were advised to move to higher ground, with shelters established for those forced to evacuate; officials also reported individuals stranded in houses and vehicles.
- Ruidoso Mayor Lynn D. Crawford acknowledged that while flooding was anticipated, the severity exceeded their expectations, describing the event as extremely frightening and noting reports of missing people and deceased horses.
- Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency and requested federal aid to support recovery in the wildfire-scarred area, emphasizing that Ruidoso deserves immediate federal resources similar to those given to Texas after recent catastrophic floods.
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We won’t let disaster define us
Richard Connor As darkness fell over the Sacramento Mountains above Ruidoso on Tuesday evening a shawl of silvery mist draped the peaks’ shoulders in a cloak that looked Heavenly. Below sat Hell. Earlier in the day the Rio Ruidoso violently leapt over its banks, sending trees, trucks, dumpsters, televisions, washing machines and even an entire house through the Village of Ruidoso in the worst flood in its history. Worse than all the debris, thre…

As many as 200 homes damaged as officials survey the aftermath of a deadly New Mexico flood
RUIDOSO, N.M. — At least 200 homes were damaged during a deadly flash flood in the mountain village of Ruidoso, and local emergency managers...
New Round of Storms Batter Millions From South to Northeast
A new round of summer storms is bringing relentless rain from the South to the Northeast spawning flash floods, dramatic lightning and causing more than 8,000 flight delays. It comes as the Southwest is still reeling from intense flooding from Texas to New Mexico. NBC’s Erin McLaughlin reports and TODAY’s Al Roker tracks the latest forecast.
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