Flooding causes tragedy in the alpine village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, leaving three reported casualties, authorities confirm.
In the heart of New Mexico, the picturesque village of Ruidoso was hit by a catastrophic flood on Tuesday, a tragic event that claimed at least three lives, including two children, and left dozens displaced. The flood was a grim reminder of the compounded dangers that monsoon rains and wildfires can pose to communities.
The flood was triggered by intense monsoonal rains that fell over the terrain scorched last year by the South Fork and Salt fires. The burn scar left by these wildfires, which destroyed an estimated 1,400 homes and structures in the summer of 2024, was unable to absorb a lot of the rain, causing water to quickly run downhill into the Rio Ruidoso.
Emergency crews were swift into action, conducting at least 85 swift water rescues, involving people trapped in their homes and cars. The village reported three people missing, but it's unclear if they are the same individuals who died. The floodwaters knocked down trees in their path, causing loud crashes, and left some cars stranded in the mud.
The Rio Ruidoso crested at more than 20 feet, a potential record high, and the air in Ruidoso smelled of gasoline during the flood. A house, belonging to one of an artist's friends, was swept downstream by the floodwaters. Fortunately, the friend's family was not in the house and is safe.
The flood brought back painful memories for Carpenter, whose art studio was swept away during a flood last year. Three shelters have been opened in the Ruidoso area for displaced residents.
This event underscores the vulnerability of Ruidoso to flooding after wildfires. The loss of vegetation on burn scars reduces the land’s ability to absorb water, making heavy rainfall during the monsoon season far more likely to cause rapid and dangerous flooding. This risk is well known locally: from June through September, the village experiences intense summer storms that can cause flash flooding, especially in creeks, arroyos, and canyon bottoms. These areas can flood suddenly and without warning signs, posing serious risks to residents and travelers.
The flooding in Ruidoso occurred just days after flash floods in Texas killed over 100 people and left more than 160 people missing. The National Weather Service issued flood warnings in the area, which was stripped of vegetation by recent wildfires. As the floodwaters recede, the community of Ruidoso faces a long road to recovery.
In contrast to the tragic flood event in Ruidoso, California might also experience wildfires posing similar dangers to communities due to a reduced ability to absorb water post-wildfires. If a wildfire like the South Fork and Salt fires, which destroyed over 1,400 homes and structures in 2024, were to occur in California, it could increase the likelihood of catastrophic weather-related accidents such as accidents due to swift water rescues or flash flooding in general-news headlines.
