Latest news with #DownshiftBrewing
CBC
5 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
New Mexico residents watch in shock as flash flood sweeps entire house downstream
Residents were glued to the windows at a riverside brewery in Ruidoso, New Mexico, as a flash flood swept through town, carrying rocks and debris. Nervous chatter filled the taproom at Downshift Brewing Company, where about 50 people were sheltering from monsoon rains that caused the Rio Ruidoso to swell to more than six metres on Tuesday, a tentative record. The gasps in the room grew louder as an entire house floated by, knocking down trees in its path. The turquoise paint on the front door of the single-storey white house with brown slats was barely visible under layers of mud. But local artist Kaitlyn Carpenter, who was filming the flooding on her phone, recognized it immediately as the family home of one of her best friends. "I've been in that house and have memories in that house, so seeing it come down the river was just pretty heartbreaking," she said. "I just couldn't believe it." A symbol of flood's destruction No one was inside the house that day. Carpenter says her friend stays elsewhere during the summer since the mountain town is prone to flooding. Images and video she took of the house have been widely shared as a stark symbol of the flood's destruction. Three people at a riverside RV park died after being swept away in the river, including two children. Dozens of homes have been damaged, and streets were clogged with mud and debris. Farther down the river, pieces of metal and other debris were twisted around tree trunks. Broken tree limbs were wedged against homes and piled on porches. The water was thick with sediment and many roads remained closed Wednesday. The popular summer destination has been especially vulnerable to flooding since last summer, when the South Fork and Salt fires raced across tinder-dry forest and destroyed hundreds of homes. Residents were forced to flee a wall of flames, only to grapple with intense flooding later that summer.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
An entire house swept downstream in New Mexico floods seen as a symbol of the devastation
Residents were glued to the windows at a riverside brewery in Ruidoso, New Mexico, as a flash flood swept through town, carrying rocks and debris. Nervous chatter filled the taproom at Downshift Brewing Company, where about 50 people were sheltering from monsoon rains that caused the Rio Ruidoso to swell to more than 20 feet (6.1 kilometers) on Tuesday, a tentative record. The gasps in the room grew louder as an entire house floated by, knocking down trees in its path. The turquoise paint on the front door of the single-story white house with brown slats was barely visible under layers of mud. But local artist Kaitlyn Carpenter, who was filming the flooding on her phone, recognized it immediately as the family home of one of her best friends. 'I've been in that house and have memories in that house, so seeing it come down the river was just pretty heartbreaking,' she said. 'I just couldn't believe it.' No one was inside the house that day. Carpenter said her friend stays elsewhere during the summer since the mountain town is prone to flooding. Her image of the house has been widely shared as a stark symbol of the flood's destruction. Three people who were at a riverside RV park died after being swept away in the river, including two children. Dozens of homes have been damaged, and streets were clogged with mud and debris. Farther down the river, pieces of metal and other debris were twisted around tree trunks. Broken tree limbs were wedged against homes and piled on porches. The water was thick with sediment and many roads still remained closed Wednesday. The popular summer destination has been especially vulnerable to flooding since the summer of 2024, when the South Fork and Salt fires raced across tinder-dry forest and destroyed hundreds of homes. Residents were forced to flee a wall of flames, only to grapple with intense flooding later that summer.
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Climate
- Associated Press
An entire house swept downstream in New Mexico floods seen as a symbol of the devastation
RUIDOSO, N.M. (AP) — Residents were glued to the windows at a riverside brewery in Ruidoso, New Mexico, as a flash flood swept through town, carrying rocks and debris. Nervous chatter filled the taproom at Downshift Brewing Company, where about 50 people were sheltering from monsoon rains that caused the Rio Ruidoso to swell to more than 20 feet (6.1 kilometers) on Tuesday, a tentative record. The gasps in the room grew louder as an entire house floated by, knocking down trees in its path. The turquoise paint on the front door of the single-story white house with brown slats was barely visible under layers of mud. But local artist Kaitlyn Carpenter, who was filming the flooding on her phone, recognized it immediately as the family home of one of her best friends. 'I've been in that house and have memories in that house, so seeing it come down the river was just pretty heartbreaking,' she said. 'I just couldn't believe it.' No one was inside the house that day. Carpenter said her friend stays elsewhere during the summer since the mountain town is prone to flooding. Her image of the house has been widely shared as a stark symbol of the flood's destruction. Three people who were at a riverside RV park died after being swept away in the river, including two children. Dozens of homes have been damaged, and streets were clogged with mud and debris. Farther down the river, pieces of metal and other debris were twisted around tree trunks. Broken tree limbs were wedged against homes and piled on porches. The water was thick with sediment and many roads still remained closed Wednesday. The popular summer destination has been especially vulnerable to flooding since the summer of 2024, when the South Fork and Salt fires raced across tinder-dry forest and destroyed hundreds of homes. Residents were forced to flee a wall of flames, only to grapple with intense flooding later that summer.
CNN
6 days ago
- Climate
- CNN
Nearly 100 rescued after flash flooding hits New Mexico mountain village
Floodwaters trapped people in their homes and cars Tuesday in a mountain village that is a popular summer retreat in southern New Mexico as monsoon rains triggered flash flooding and an entire house was swept downstream. Emergency crews carried out at least 85 swift water rescues in the Ruidoso area, including of people who were trapped in their homes and cars, said Danielle Silva of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. No injuries or deaths were immediately reported, but Silva said the extent of the destruction wouldn't be known until the water recedes. Officials urged residents to seek higher ground in the afternoon as the waters of the Rio Ruidoso rose nearly 19 feet in a matter of minutes amid heavy rainfall. The National Weather Service issued flood warnings in the area, which was stripped of nearby vegetation by recent wildfires. A weather service flood gauge and companion video camera showed churning waters of the Rio Ruidoso surge over the river's banks into surrounding forest. Streets and bridges were closed in response. Kaitlyn Carpenter, an artist in Ruidoso, was riding her motorcycle through town Tuesday afternoon when the storm started to pick up, and she sought shelter at the riverside Downshift Brewing Company with about 50 other people. She started to film debris rushing down the Rio Ruidoso when she spotted a house float by with a familiar turquoise door. It belonged to the family of one of her best friends. Her friend's family was not in the house and is safe, she said. '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. 'I just couldn't believe it.' Two National Guard rescue teams and several local teams already were in the area when the flooding began, Silva said, and more Guard teams were expected. The area has been especially vulnerable to flooding since the summer of 2024, when the South Fork and Salt fires raced across tinder-dry forest and destroyed an estimated 1,400 homes and structures. Residents were forced to flee a wall of flames, only to grapple with intense flooding later that summer. 'We know that the water levels seemed to be higher than they were last summer,' Silva said. 'It is a significant amount of water flowing throughout, some of it in new areas that didn't flood last year.' Matt DeMaria, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, said storms formed in the early afternoon over terrain that was scorched last year by wildfire. The burn scar was unable to absorb a lot of the rain, as water quickly ran downhill into the river. Preliminary measurements show the Rio Ruidoso crested at 20 feet above its ordinary level — a record high if confirmed — and was receding Tuesday evening. Three shelters opened in the Ruidoso area for people who could not return home. The sight brought back painful memories for Carpenter, whose art studio was swept away during a flood last year. Outside, the air smelled of gasoline, and loud crashes could be heard as the river knocked down trees in its path. 'It's pretty terrifying,' she said. Cory State, who works at the Downshift Brewing Company, welcomed in dozens of residents as the river surged and hail pelted the windows. The house floating by was 'just one of the many devastating things about today,' he said.
CNN
6 days ago
- Climate
- CNN
Nearly 100 rescued after flash flooding hits New Mexico mountain village
Floodwaters trapped people in their homes and cars Tuesday in a mountain village that is a popular summer retreat in southern New Mexico as monsoon rains triggered flash flooding and an entire house was swept downstream. Emergency crews carried out at least 85 swift water rescues in the Ruidoso area, including of people who were trapped in their homes and cars, said Danielle Silva of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. No injuries or deaths were immediately reported, but Silva said the extent of the destruction wouldn't be known until the water recedes. Officials urged residents to seek higher ground in the afternoon as the waters of the Rio Ruidoso rose nearly 19 feet in a matter of minutes amid heavy rainfall. The National Weather Service issued flood warnings in the area, which was stripped of nearby vegetation by recent wildfires. A weather service flood gauge and companion video camera showed churning waters of the Rio Ruidoso surge over the river's banks into surrounding forest. Streets and bridges were closed in response. Kaitlyn Carpenter, an artist in Ruidoso, was riding her motorcycle through town Tuesday afternoon when the storm started to pick up, and she sought shelter at the riverside Downshift Brewing Company with about 50 other people. She started to film debris rushing down the Rio Ruidoso when she spotted a house float by with a familiar turquoise door. It belonged to the family of one of her best friends. Her friend's family was not in the house and is safe, she said. '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. 'I just couldn't believe it.' Two National Guard rescue teams and several local teams already were in the area when the flooding began, Silva said, and more Guard teams were expected. The area has been especially vulnerable to flooding since the summer of 2024, when the South Fork and Salt fires raced across tinder-dry forest and destroyed an estimated 1,400 homes and structures. Residents were forced to flee a wall of flames, only to grapple with intense flooding later that summer. 'We know that the water levels seemed to be higher than they were last summer,' Silva said. 'It is a significant amount of water flowing throughout, some of it in new areas that didn't flood last year.' Matt DeMaria, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, said storms formed in the early afternoon over terrain that was scorched last year by wildfire. The burn scar was unable to absorb a lot of the rain, as water quickly ran downhill into the river. Preliminary measurements show the Rio Ruidoso crested at 20 feet above its ordinary level — a record high if confirmed — and was receding Tuesday evening. Three shelters opened in the Ruidoso area for people who could not return home. The sight brought back painful memories for Carpenter, whose art studio was swept away during a flood last year. Outside, the air smelled of gasoline, and loud crashes could be heard as the river knocked down trees in its path. 'It's pretty terrifying,' she said. Cory State, who works at the Downshift Brewing Company, welcomed in dozens of residents as the river surged and hail pelted the windows. The house floating by was 'just one of the many devastating things about today,' he said.
