The American Southwest is dealing with a string of natural disasters, as New Mexico was hit with severe flooding just days after record floodwaters assaulted Central Texas. On Tuesday, the mountain town of Ruidoso, New Mexico, was hit by a surprise flash flood that sent the Rio Ruidoso up more than 15 feet in a half-hour, NOAA said.
Whole homes were removed by the strong current, and videos being shared on social media showed neighborhoods in ruins. The National Weather Service (NWS) also declared an urgent ‘flash flood emergency’, advising of a ‘hazardous’ situation and telling people to leave immediately.
New Mexico Flooded
Emergency responders rushed to act as the rushing waters wreaked havoc. In the town of Lincoln, New Mexico, the water dragged a father and his two kids away. Rescues were taking place at such places as Gavilan Trailer Park, where mobile homes were noticed being swept away by the flood. Other such areas on high alert were Upper Canyon, Brady Canyon, Perk Canyon, and Cedar Creek.
Texas Still Recovering from Lethal River Surge
In the meantime, Central Texas is still reeling from the deadly effects of last week’s flooding along the Guadalupe River. Governor Greg Abbott reported that the death toll had risen to 109, with 161 additional people still unaccounted for, the majority from Kerr County.
The disaster has been especially brutal at Camp Mystic, a girls’ summer camp where at least 30 children have perished and 27 are still missing.
Authorities in both states are continuing with massive search and recovery operations. In Texas, police are working around the clock to locate missing individuals who might not have been officially registered at nearby camps or hotels.