RUIDOSO, N.M. (AP) — On Wednesday, the aftermath of a devastating flash flood in Ruidoso, New Mexico, left the community grappling with destruction, including broken tree limbs, twisted metal, crumpled cars, and muddy debris. The floods, which occurred on Tuesday, claimed the lives of three individuals and caused significant damage to numerous homes. Crews were deployed to clear roads and culverts as the town began to assess the extent of the damage.
The disaster was triggered by an intense period of monsoon rains that led to water rushing down the mountainside, overwhelming the Rio Ruidoso. Tragically, a man and two children—a 4-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy—were swept away from an RV park along the river. Their bodies were later recovered downstream during rescue efforts. The children were camping with their parents, who are currently receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the disaster at a hospital in Texas.
Mayor Lynn Crawford expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and noted the emotional strain on the residents as they began to assess the devastation. Ruidoso, a well-known summer retreat, has a history of facing natural disasters, having spent the last year recovering from severe wildfires and subsequent flooding. The recent rainfall, exceeding the absorption capacity of the burned hills and canyons, worsened the existing vulnerabilities in the region.
Barbara Arthur, owner of the Riverside RV Park, described the situation as the sixth instance of the river rising alarmingly over the past several weeks, with this event being the most severe. Arthur's property was significantly damaged, as her house and a rental unit were destroyed, with three trailers from her RV park also floating away. She expressed her concerns about her ability to recover from this latest flooding, citing the ongoing challenge from the previous year's wildfires.
Official reports indicated that the Rio Ruidoso rose to over 20 feet (6 meters), a historic high that surpassed the previous record set last year by nearly 5 feet (1.52 meters). Mayor Crawford highlighted that the community received an exceptional 3.5 inches of rain over the South Fork burn scar within just 90 minutes, leading to direct flooding in the town. Meteorologist Todd Shoemake noted the unfortunate timing of the rainfall, emphasizing that even minor precipitation over fire-damaged land can lead to significant flooding.
Emergency teams executed multiple swift water rescues immediately after the flooding began. Despite the water receding quickly, numerous roads remained closed Wednesday, and utility restoration in affected neighborhoods was anticipated to take time. Floodwaters damaged the village's water lines, infiltrated the sewer system, and harmed around 50 homes, with one house completely washed away. The river, now reduced to a trickle, was still heavily muddied with sediment and debris.
Shelters opened to assist displaced residents, while food banks provided necessary provisions. Authorities encouraged individuals to report missing loved ones or neighbors affected by the flooding. The disaster unfolded shortly after catastrophic flash floods in Texas, which resulted in over 100 fatalities and left numerous individuals missing.
As the village faced the consequences of this disaster, local officials had already begun taking precautions by replacing outdoor warning sirens and evaluating flood risks in collaboration with federal authorities. Mayor Crawford noted the ongoing vulnerabilities of Ruidoso during the monsoon season, traditionally spanning from June to September. Despite the previous year’s efforts to mitigate risks—such as debris removal and erosion control measures—the mayor acknowledged that several areas remain susceptible to future flooding.
Furthermore, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has requested a presidential disaster declaration, citing emergency response costs exceeding $50 million due to damages from recent storms, including those affecting infrastructure like bridges and roads. The community’s tourism-dependent economy has suffered a setback, as the floodwaters disrupted scheduled events at the Ruidoso Downs horse track.
With the rainy season still ongoing, the mayor cautioned residents about the unpredictable nature of extreme weather and underscored the need for ongoing resilience efforts within the community. “Yesterday was a good lesson—Mother Nature is a much bigger powerful force than we are,” he remarked, acknowledging the limitations of human efforts to combat such natural disasters.
