Flash Flood Emergency Strikes Ruidoso
The flooding in New Mexico came after a flash flood emergency was issued by the National Weather Service on Tuesday, which warned of rapidly deteriorating conditions and rising river levels, as per the report. It is part of a broader pattern of devastating weather in the American Southwest this summer, as reported by Newsweek.
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Monsoon Rains Turn Deadly
The floods were triggered by storms that arrived during the region’s monsoon season, which goes on from late June through early September, which leads to sudden downpours that can cause flash floods, according to the Newsweek report.
Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford said that Tuesday’s monsoon flood was one of the worst he had seen, as quoted by Newsweek.
While the New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an emergency declaration request on Tuesday night to seek federal aid to help Ruidoso recover, according to the report. She said, “Ruidoso endured devastating wildfires and flooding last summer, and now catastrophic flooding is hitting this resilient community again. This crisis demands immediate action,” as quoted by Newsweek.ALSO READ: Billionaires ditch Nvidia for this AI stock that’s soared 2,000% since 2023
Three Lives Lost, Many Rescued
Local officials in New Mexico confirmed to Newsweek that a man in his 40s or 50s and two young children, a 4-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy, were killed in Tuesday’s flooding, while three victims were “swept downstream by the unprecedented floodwaters that struck” the village, as quoted in the report. While more than 50 people were rescued by emergency crews, according to the Newsweek report.
Mayor Crawford said “Our hearts are broken for the families who have lost their loved ones in this terrible tragedy,” as quoted in the report.
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While speaking on local radio on Tuesday night, Crawford shared that there were reports of mudslides and gas leaks at homes that had been washed away or severely damaged and described the condition as “catastrophic” for his small mountain community, adding that multiple bridges had been underwater and there had been more than two dozen swift-water rescues, as reported by Newsweek.
Record-Breaking River Levels
The flooding comes as Rio Ruidoso increased to a record-breaking 20 feet, which was five feet higher than the previous record, according to the report. The National Weather Service’s data had found that Albuquerque put the river’s crest at 20.24 feet on Tuesday afternoon, surpassing the previous record of 15.86 feet set in July 2024, as reported by Newsweek.
Flood Maps and Tracking
According to Newsweek, the interactive maps by Windy.com show the affected areas and the severity of the New Mexico flooding.
FAQs
Why is New Mexico under a state of emergency?
Because flash floods have devastated areas like Ruidoso, damaging homes, closing roads, and taking lives, as per the Newsweek report.
What caused the flooding in Ruidoso?
Heavy rains during New Mexico’s monsoon season, combined with wildfire-scarred land that can’t absorb water, led to rapid and severe flooding, as per the Newsweek report.
