Parts of Ruidoso evacuated due to flooding on Tuesday
RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE) – The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for the South Fork burn scar and below the Salt burn scar on Tuesday.
The Village of Ruidoso announced Tuesday night that homeowners in the Upper Canyon area will have access to the area from 6:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. to gather belongings. The area will need to be vacated by 10 a.m. with more flooding expected in the area on Wednesday.
“There’s water on the ground and of course, the ground is pretty well soaked already. We do have hail mixed in with the rain, so that’s adding another layer of frustration to everything that goes on; so it’s a little rough to even consider how much damage this will do at the end,” says Michael Scales, Emergency Management Specialist from Lincoln County New Mexico.
Evacuation orders were issued for Cedar Creek, Upper Canyon, Brady Canyon, areas along the Rio Ruidoso, Paradise Canyon, Hull, and Cherokee Mobile Village according to the Village of Ruidoso but have since been lifted.
Currently, all bridge crossings in Ruidoso are closed due to flooding:
Paradise Canyon and Meander
Gavilan Canyon Road between Meander and Sutton
Brady Canyon and Mechem
Paradise Canyon and Hull
Eagle Drive
Upper Canyon bridges
Flash flooding happened from Cedar Creek, Gavilan Canyon, and Ski Run Rd to Lower Eagle Creek, according to the Lincoln County Office of Emergency Services. There is a shelter at White Mountain Sports Complex.
The flooding has also caused multiple gas leaks throughout the Village of Ruidoso. Officials advise people to stay away from gas smells and report the issue to Zia Natural Gas at 800-520-4277 or 575-378-4277.
A National Weather Service employee said they received reports of rescues in the area including one person trapped in their car and a woman trapped in a tree.
The floodwaters caused heavy damage to the Ruidoso Downs Race Track. Heavy machinery operators were out working to help drain the water. The risk of flash flooding is expected to continue through the end of the week. Lincoln County Emergency Services asks residents to also sign up for the local “Code Red System” in case of more evacuation orders.
“Everyone should be monitoring their telephones for weather alerts. Keep their heads on a swivel, watching for storm clouds and if the storms come in, they need to get to higher ground as quickly as possible,” says Scales.
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