The mountain town was hit by wildfires last year and was still recovering, now flash floods have struck, bringing more catastrophe to the community.
A New Mexico town, Ruidoso, faced a disaster on Tuesday, June 8, as heavy rains brought dangerous flash floods and widespread destruction. Videos and photos shared online showed the extent of the damage, with homes and businesses heavily impacted by the rising waters.
The town was hit by severe flooding during a monsoon storm, leading to homes being damaged or swept away by the floodwaters, with reports of mudslides and gas leaks adding to the chaos.
Mayor Lynn Crawford said multiple bridges were underwater and more than two dozen swift-water rescues had taken place. Three people remained missing as emergency crews continued search efforts.
The flooding was linked to seasonal monsoon storms, which run from late June to early September and often bring sudden downpours and fast-moving flash floods.
Crawford described Tuesday’s event as one of the worst he had seen, compounding what he called a catastrophic stretch for the town. “Last year we had a bad one or two, but this one was right there with it,” he noted.
Around 30 swift-water rescues had been carried out, and there were reports of horses and people killed in the flooding as well as some individuals being hospitalized.
The Village of Ruidoso officially confirmed that three people lost their lives. The victims, a man believed to be between 40 and 50 years old, a four-year-old girl, and a seven-year-old boy, were swept downstream by the record-breaking floodwaters.
In addition to the official death toll, community members have reported further losses on social media. Among them, Tiffanie Wyatt, who had been searching for her missing niece and nephew, later confirmed that both had died in the flood.
Another resident, Darnell Benally, reported that five-year-old Charlotte and seven-year-old Sebastian Trotter, last seen at Midtown RV Park, had also not survived.
Crawford expressed condolences to the affected families, emphasizing, “The entire Village of Ruidoso extends our deepest sympathy and compassion to these grieving families during this unimaginably difficult time. We are united in our sorrow and our commitment to supporting one another as we face this devastating loss together.”
Officials have asked for privacy on behalf of the grieving families as the community navigates this period of mourning and urged those in safe, dry locations to remain there as conditions remained hazardous. The village also told residents who couldn’t reach their loved ones to report missing persons to the emergency operations center.
The Village of Ruidoso is working in coordination with the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and other agencies as the investigation into the flooding fatalities continues.
Search and rescue efforts remain active, and the Ruidoso Community Center at 501 Sudderth Drive is open as a temporary shelter for those displaced by the disaster. Further updates will be shared as more information becomes available.
Verified videos circulating online revealed the scale of the flood damage, showing roads submerged by rushing water and a house swept down the Rio Ruidoso before slamming into trees. Before the storm, the river had been small enough to cross on foot, but the sudden surge turned it into a dangerous current.
The National Weather Service reported that the Rio Ruidoso appeared to have crested at a record 20 feet on Tuesday. A flash flood emergency was issued after about an inch of rain fell on burn scars left behind by last year’s wildfires, which killed two people and destroyed hundreds of homes.
One of the most destructive blazes, the South Fork Fire, began on June 17, 2024, and scorched over 17,000 acres. According to Crawford, the fire burned so intensely that it rendered the soil hydrophobic, unable to absorb water, heightening the risk of severe flooding.
The town had already experienced flooding last year in the aftermath of the wildfires. However, Crawford noted, “This one hit us harder than we were expecting.”
In response to the worsening situation, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an emergency declaration request Tuesday night, seeking federal assistance.
She also wrote in a statement, “Ruidoso endured devastating wildfires and flooding last summer, and now catastrophic flooding is hitting this resilient community again. This crisis demands immediate action.
Ruidoso, a town of 7,600 residents nestled in the Sierra Blanca mountain range about 180 miles southeast of Albuquerque, remains especially vulnerable to flash flooding due to its mountainous terrain and the presence of burn scars from recent fires.
