Heavy monsoon rains triggered flash flooding in the mountain village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, on Tuesday, leading to the rescue of nearly 100 residents trapped in their homes and vehicles. Emergency crews conducted at least 85 swift water rescues as floodwaters rose dramatically, with the Rio Ruidoso swelling nearly 19 feet within minutes.
Danielle Silva, spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, reported that no injuries or fatalities were immediately confirmed. The full extent of the damage, she noted, would only become clear once the waters recede. Residents were urged to seek higher ground as the situation worsened.
The National Weather Service issued flood warnings for the area, which has been severely impacted by recent wildfires that stripped vegetation, leaving the terrain vulnerable to flooding. A flood gauge and accompanying video footage captured the Rio Ruidoso overflowing its banks, inundating surrounding forests and leading to the closure of streets and bridges.
Community Impact and Rescues
Kaitlyn Carpenter, an artist residing in Ruidoso, described her experience during the storm. While riding her motorcycle through town, she sought refuge at the Downshift Brewing Company with about 50 others. As she filmed debris rushing down the river, she was heartbroken to see a house float by with a familiar turquoise door belonging to a close friend’s family. Fortunately, her friend’s family was not inside at the time.
“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.
Two National Guard rescue teams were already deployed in the region when the flooding began, and additional teams were expected to arrive. The area has been particularly susceptible to flooding since the summer of 2024, following the South Fork and Salt fires that devastated the landscape and destroyed approximately 1,400 homes. The community, which had previously evacuated due to wildfires, now faced a new crisis.
Weather Conditions and Future Outlook
Meteorologist Matt DeMaria from the National Weather Service in Albuquerque explained that storms developed over areas scorched by last year’s wildfires. The burn scars could not absorb the rainfall, causing water to rapidly flow downhill into the river. Preliminary measurements indicated that the Rio Ruidoso may have crested at a record height of 20 feet above its normal level, although this was still to be confirmed.
As the river began to recede Tuesday evening, three shelters opened in Ruidoso for residents unable to return home. For Carpenter, the flood brought back painful memories; her own art studio was swept away during last year’s flooding.
The atmosphere was tense. The air smelled strongly of gasoline, and the sound of crashing trees resonated as the river surged. Cory State, an employee at Downshift Brewing Company, welcomed dozens of residents seeking safety as hail pelted the windows. He remarked that the floating house was “just one of the many devastating things about today.”
The Ruidoso community is now grappling with the aftermath of this natural disaster, raising concerns about the ongoing risks posed by extreme weather events in an already vulnerable region.
