Five people rescued, house swept away in Ruidoso flooding
Update (10:00 PM): An ABC-7 crew spent the day in Ruidoso to cover the flooding. Our crew spoke to residents who witnessed the worst of the flooding.
"It was scary, it was scary," said Lindsey Tharpe, who recorded a video of her neighbor's house floating away behind her backyard along Cedar Creek in Ruidoso. "It kept on getting higher and higher."
With Ruidoso flooding multiple different days this month, Tharpe says it’s hard to fathom how much destruction each day of flooding leaves behind.
"You know, just the reality of it. You kind of think maybe that was a nightmare or maybe it wasn't real, but then you see it all over again. You know, every day you drive by, you're like, oh, no, this is it's very real."
Jay McKittrick also witnessed the flooding. McKittrick said it rains in this area often, but in his 27 years in Ruidoso, it’s never been like this.
"It was unlike any anything we've ever seen," McKittrick said. "We've seen floods here before, and we've seen it go over the bridge before, but not like this. This was 20, 25%, faster and bigger than it's ever been."
McKittrick said it’s floods like these keep happening, especially as the town was ready to move forward.
"Tourists were coming into town. Businesses, restaurants were open and and there was there was music being played. And so forth. People were going out at night and then whammo! Just this last week, we've we've been hit, I think three different, times the last two weeks."
Our crew was in the Cedar Creek area today. Villagers tell us that creek in particular has caused a lot of problems in the recent floods. Normally the creek is small and it's relatively calm, but during flooding, the creek expands and the waters start to flow with increased strength.
"This is not a one and done disaster. This could happen every day," Eric Cuellar, the emergency manager for the Village of Ruidoso said. He says Ruidoso is working with county, state, and federal partners to mitigate further damage from future floods.
"Mitigation is, to lessen the impact. It's not to prevent. And as much as we want to prevent stuff, you can't prevent mother nature from doing her worst. "
Cuellar says sandbags and other blocking systems are helpful, but the best way to keep people safe is to adhere to emergency notices.
"Make sure that if, if you do get a flood watch, a flood warning, a flood, flash flood, emergency or a get to higher ground notice you take those immediately."
Update (5:34 PM): New video is coming into the ABC-7 newsroom showing severe damage caused by today's flooding. One video shows a house swept away by the floodwaters. Another shows water breaking through the asphalt of a major road. Watch the video located in the carousel above to see more images from Ruidoso today.
Update (3:55 PM): Emergency workers rescued five people from the floodwaters, according to Village of Ruidoso Spokesperson Kerry Gladden. Gladden says that no one was injured and that the waters are now receding.
RUIDOSO, New Mexico (KVIA) -- The US National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning for the Ruidoso area until 3:30 PM, according to the Village of Ruidoso on Facebook.
Village officials say shelters are currently available at these locations:
- Ruidoso Community Center
- 501 Sudderth Dr, Ruidoso, NM 88345
- (575) 257-4565
"This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation," the village posted. "Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order. Thunderstorms producing flash flooding in and around the South Fork Burn Scar."
The village adds that excessive rainfall on the burn scar could impact the Upper Canyon, Brady Canyon, and Perk Canyon areas.
"Impacts to areas along the Rio Ruidoso may extend downstream of Ruidoso Downs. The debris flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose materials."
The U.S. Forest Service - Lincoln National Forest is warning everyone on Facebook of hazardous flooding in the Cedar Creek Area right now. The Forest Service shared the photo below on social media.
Watch videos of the flooding happening in Ruidoso today here.
