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Flash flood emergency declared in New Mexico
New Mexico was hit by severe flash flooding triggered by monsoon rains on Tuesday, leaving at least three people missing from the mountain village of Ruidoso and causing a house to be swept downstream.
The Rio Ruidoso’s water levels rose from less than three feet to a crest of 20.24 feet in under an hour as a result of the heavy downpour, according to the National Weather Service.
Emergency crews have so far carried out at least 85 swift water rescues in the vicinity, including of people who were trapped in their homes and cars, said Danielle Silva of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
Two National Guard rescue teams and several local teams already were in the area when the flooding began, Silva said, and more Guard teams were expected.
No deaths were immediately reported but three people have been taken to the hospital and were in stable condition, according to Kerry Gladden, public information officer for Ruidoso.
The disaster comes just days after flash floods in Texas killed at least 110 people and left 173 people missing.
Kaitlyn Carpenter, an artist in Ruidoso who filmed the runaway house video, was reportedly riding her motorcycle through town Tuesday afternoon when the storm started to pick up and she sought shelter at the riverside Downshift Brewing Company with about 50 other people.
She started to film debris rushing down the Rio Ruidoso when she spotted a house float by with a familiar turquoise door. It belonged to the family of one of her best friends.
Her friend’s family was not in the house and is safe, she said.
“I’ve been in that house and have memories in that house, so seeing it come down the river was just pretty heartbreaking,” Carpenter said. ‘I just couldn’t believe it.”
The sight brought back painful memories for Carpenter, whose own art studio was swept away during a flood last year.
Outside, the air smelled of gasoline, and loud crashes could be heard as the river knocked down trees in its path.
“It’s pretty terrifying,” she said.
Three shelters have opened in the Ruidoso area for people who cannot currently return home.
Cory State, who works at the Downshift Brewing Company, says he welcomed in dozens of residents as the river surged and hail pelted the windows.
The house floating by was “just one of the many devastating things about today,” he said.
Joe Sommerlad9 July 2025 09:55
Here’s what the Albuquerque office of the NWS has said about the disaster:
Joe Sommerlad9 July 2025 09:25
Mayor of Ruidoso Lynn Crawford told the press earlier that a father and two children are missing in the floods, although it is currently unclear whether these are the same three people alluded to by the National Weather Service in its initial alerts.
“We are still looking for some folks,” Mayor Crawford said on local radio.
“If you’re at home, stay at home,” he told residents, adding that the disaster “got ugly really quick” and that he has appealed to President Donald Trump for federal support in dealing with the calamity.
As the floodwaters recede, the full extent of the damage is still being assessed in the mountain village.
This video of the aforementioned house being carried away by the waters has to be seen to be believed:
Here’s more from Rich Booth.
Joe Sommerlad9 July 2025 09:05
New Mexico was hit by severe flash flooding triggered by monsoon rains on Tuesday, leaving at least three people missing from the mountain village of Ruidoso and causing a house to be swept downstream.
The Rio Ruidoso’s water levels rose from less than three feet to a crest of 20.24 feet in under an hour as a result of the heavy downpour, according to the National Weather Service.
Emergency crews have so far carried out at least 85 swift water rescues in the vicinity, including of people who were trapped in their homes and cars, said Danielle Silva of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
Two National Guard rescue teams and several local teams already were in the area when the flooding began, Silva said, and more Guard teams were expected.
No deaths were immediately reported but three people have been taken to the hospital and were in stable condition, according to Kerry Gladden, public information officer for Ruidoso.
Here’s Gustaf Kilander’s report.
Joe Sommerlad9 July 2025 08:45
Hello and welcome to The Indepedent’s live coverage of the flash flooding that has struck southern New Mexico, days after a similar disaster led to multiple fatalities in Texas.
Joe Sommerlad9 July 2025 08:30
