Texas Governor Greg Abbott faces flood answer questions
Texas Gov. Abbott is faced with questions about his reaction to the flood, which claimed more than 100 deaths.
The southern town of New Mexico Resort was hit by a devastating flash flood on July 8th. Last year, slow storms moved through the shaking area from the burns left by wildfires.
The floods locked people in their homes and prompted multiple water rescues in Ruidoso, a mountain town 180 miles southeast of Albuquerque in the Sierra Blanca mountain range, officials said. The town is sensitive to increased landslides and runoff following two major fires in 2024 that burned a strip of land known as “burn scars.”
The National Weather Service in Albuquerque issued a Ruidoso flash flood emergency at around 3pm local time on July 8th. Neighborhoods in Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs Racecourse and Hollywood remained under flash flood warnings until 7:15pm, according to the Weather Service.
“A dangerous situation is unfolding in Ruidoso! Flash flood emergency continues to work! Look for highlands now! Don’t try to drive floods. Electric current will carry your car away!” The weather service wrote on social media.
Speaking on a local radio station, Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford said there have been multiple reports of landslides and gas leaks in households damaged or swept by floods. Several bridges in the area were also damaged or underwater, according to the mayor.
There were no immediate confirmed reports of deaths or injuries caused by flooding.
Pre-positioned by local law enforcement and the National Guard, the emergency team provided rapid water rescues of at least 85 people in and around Ruidoso. This was told by many of the victims who were stranded in cars and homes due to the floods, Daniel Silva, spokesman for New Mexico’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
Some Ruidoso residents separated during floods
Local station, NewsChannel3Now, shared a video of the house being swept through a swollen river. Authorities urged people near Rio Ruidoso to move quickly to highlands and not drive on flooded roads.
Ruidoso village spokesman Kerry Gladden said the Swift Water team was doing rescues at Ruidoso.
“The water rescues today happened, along with people trapped in their homes around them, with water around them,” Gladden told the El Paso Times, part of the USA Today network.
“We have a lot of people separated because there were some people working and at home,” Gradden said. “We provide conduits so if someone is unable to come into contact with family, we can help promote it.”
Crawford said no deaths were reported on the night of July 8, but some were taken to hospital. The mayor urged residents to stay in high and arid areas, adding that several temporary shelters are open.
The village of Ruidoso provided a telephone number at 575-637-0398 for families who may have been separated by the flood. The Ruidoso Emergency Call Center is working to reunite those who may not be able to contact us.
Noisy Gage records the historical emblem of Rio Riradoso
The Rio Ruidoso of Hollywood Gauge was found along the border between Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs Race Clock, according to the National Weather Service. The river climbed at 20.24 feet on the afternoon of July 8th, compared to the 15.86 feet peak last year.
A flash flood emergency came into effect as a slow-moving storm dumped water over a burn on a south fork. According to meteorologist Mike Hardyman with the National Weather Service in El Paso. According to Hardyman, up to three inches had fallen into the mountainous area at 3:30pm on July 8th.
“It’s on top of the mountain burns, not on top of Ruidoso, so it could flood the town,” he said.
The village of Ruidoso had warned that burns from wildfires would cause large and serious flash floods of streams, streams and ditches.
Storms and torrential rains that caused flash floods during the US monsoon season usually begin mid- to late June and last until September. Weather services can occur within minutes depending on the strength of the flash flood, topography, soil condition, and the strength of the underground cover.
The horse racing was flooded and the horse sank to the knees
Waters was flooded at Ruido So Downs Racecourse in town, and quarter horse trainer Mark Jungers said his barn had poured four feet of water and sank the horse to his knees.
“The truck (Ruidoso Downs) is flooded. Mother Nature has got us today. We just want to make sure our horses are OK and safe,” Jungers told the El Paso Times.
Quarter horse trainer Eric Valenzuela said the track was in poor condition and the jockey’s room was affected. His stable on the high ground was heavily damaged, but he acknowledged uncertainty about the rest of the tournament.
Video captures ruidoso’s flash flood
Dramatic video footage from social media and various news outlets shows a home torn from its foundations, carving downstream through the brown muddy waters of Rio Ruidoso surrounded by floods.
Eddie Garcia, chief meteorologist at Albuquerque NBC’s affiliate KOB 4, shared a video of the cabin that was washed away by the flood on Facebook. “The Ruidoso house was washed away by floodwaters just 30 minutes to an hour ago. Flash flood emergency until 5:15. If you live in the area, look for highlands,” Garcia posted on Facebook.
Ruidoso resident and arborist Jesus Figueroa also shared several videos on Facebook filming flash floods running through roads and cabins on Tuesday afternoon.
New Mexico’s Department of Homeland Security and the Emergency Management Agency are aware of the video, but they were unable to confirm whether anyone was at home.
Emergency occurs after a fatal Texas flood kills at least 110
The Ruidoso Flrows Flood emergency occurs less than a week after destroying floods in Texas, killing at least 110 people and leaving more than 160 people missing.
Search and rescue operations continued on July 8th, after heavy rain overwhelmed the Guadalupe River on July 4th and floods breached the home.
Among the victims are at least 27 children and a counselor from Mystic at Carr County Christian Girls Camp. At least 30 children have been killed in the county, Sheriff Larry Lasa confirmed on July 8th as he entered the fifth day. Five more mysterious campers and one counselor remain undecided.
Jonathan Lamb, Community Services Officer at the Kerrville Police Department, stressed the slightest chance of finding the victim alive, adding that the final “Live Rescue” was made on July 4th.
Contributed by: Jeanine Santucci, Jorge L. Ortiz, and Doyle Rice, USA Today. Reuters
