Topline
At least three people were reported missing after heavy rains triggered flash floods on Tuesday in and around the village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, which was scarred by the South Fork and Salt wildfires a year ago.
File Photo: A sign at the entrance to the Upper Canyon neighborhood in Ruidoso, NM, which saw ... More
According to CBS affiliate KRQE News, the flash floods destroyed several homes, and dozens of people had to be rescued by swift water rescue crews, but at least three still remained missing.
A village official told the Associated Press that no deaths have been reported so far, but three people were hospitalized and are now in a stable condition.
According to the National Weather Service’s preliminary estimate, water levels in the Rio Ruidoso river crested to a record level of 20 feet after rising rapidly within a few minutes.
Most of the water from the floods receded by Tuesday night, but first responders were still searching for missing individuals, the AP reported.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced she has signed an emergency declaration to “get federal response teams and repair resources on the ground immediately.”
In her statement, Lujan Grisham said, “Ruidoso endured devastating wildfires and flooding last summer, and now catastrophic flooding is hitting this resilient community again. This crisis demands immediate action.” The Democratic governor noted that her state was “mobilizing every resource” but said “Ruidoso needs federal support to recover from this disaster.” She added: “We've watched Texas receive the federal resources they desperately needed, and Ruidoso deserves that same urgent response.”