Latest news with #Ruidoso
The Independent
a day ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Trump approves disaster relief for New Mexico mountain town battered by back-to-back floods
President Donald Trump has approved a federal disaster declaration for New Mexico after flash floods tore through a mountain village that had not yet recovered from a deadly flood that killed three people and damaged hundreds of homes three weeks prior. The declaration allows Lincoln County residents to apply for several forms of Federal Emergency Management Agency aid, including home repair assistance, lodging reimbursement and medical coverage for injuries or illnesses caused by the disaster. Severe storms last Wednesday brought flooding and landslides to an already damaged Ruidoso. At least five people who were trapped by the rushing water had to be rescued last Thursday. The southern New Mexico community and its surrounding towns have been reeling this summer, with afternoon thunderstorms bringing more rain than the mountainsides can handle. Past wildfires have stripped the hills of trees and vegetation, leaving the Ruidoso area vulnerable to repeated flooding.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Climate
- Associated Press
Trump approves disaster relief for New Mexico mountain town battered by back-to-back floods
RUIDOSO, N.M. (AP) — President Donald Trump has approved a federal disaster declaration for New Mexico after flash floods tore through a mountain village that had not yet recovered from a deadly flood that killed three people and damaged hundreds of homes three weeks prior. The declaration allows Lincoln County residents to apply for several forms of Federal Emergency Management Agency aid, including home repair assistance, lodging reimbursement and medical coverage for injuries or illnesses caused by the disaster. Severe storms last Wednesday brought flooding and landslides to an already damaged Ruidoso. At least five people who were trapped by the rushing water had to be rescued last Thursday. The southern New Mexico community and its surrounding towns have been reeling this summer, with afternoon thunderstorms bringing more rain than the mountainsides can handle. Past wildfires have stripped the hills of trees and vegetation, leaving the Ruidoso area vulnerable to repeated flooding.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Flash flooding prompts rescues in New Mexico mountain village
RUIDOSO, N.M. (AP) — Another afternoon of heavy rainfall Thursday prompted flash flooding in the mountain village of Ruidoso, forcing the closure of roads and the rescue of at least five people who were trapped by the rushing water. The southern New Mexico community has been reeling this summer, with afternoon thunderstorms bringing more rain than the surrounding mountainsides can handle. Past wildfires have stripped the hills of trees and vegetation, leaving the Ruidoso area vulnerable to repeated flooding. It was less than three weeks ago that massive flooding killed three people and damaged hundreds of homes, resulting in state and federal disaster declarations. On Thursday, residents shared videos on social media that showed walls of muddy water coursing down creeks and over roads, ripping apart a mobile home and toppling trees along the way. Authorities were blocking traffic to keep vehicles out of the water as onlookers watched from higher ground. Forecasters with the National Weather Service routinely have been issuing flash-flood watches and warnings as the summer rainy season is in full force. They reported Thursday that one stretch of the Rio Ruidoso had risen to roughly 12.5 feet (3.81 meters) as a result of the burn-scar flooding. Flood watches also were issued Thursday for parts of northern New Mexico around burn scars left by the 2022 Calf Canyon Hermit's Peak blazes.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
FEMA says assistance is available to Lincoln County residents impacted by flooding
LINCOLN COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – FEMA on Thursday encouraged Lincoln County residents who were impacted by severe storms, flooding and landslides that began on and after June 23, 2025, to apply for assistance. FEMA said financial assistance is available to eligible homeowners and renters and that the federal agency may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs. Village of Ruidoso says its ready to welcome visitors back after devastating floods Residents with homeowners, renters or flood insurance should file a claim first, FEMA said. If your policy does not cover all your damage expenses, you may then be eligible for federal assistance. How to apply for FEMA help: Online at Download the FEMA App for mobile devices Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. MT. If you use a relay service, captioned telephone or other service, you can give FEMA your number for that service. Helpline specialists speak many languages. Press 2 for Spanish. View an accessible video about how to apply at: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube. When you apply for assistance, have this information readily available: If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name A current phone number where you can be contacted Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying Your Social Security number, if available A general list of damage and losses Banking information for direct deposit FEMA said to keep receipts from all purchases related to cleanup and repair. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loans are available to businesses of all sizes, nonprofits, homeowners and renters, according to the agency. For more information, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Village of Ruidoso says it's ready to welcome visitors back after devastating flood
RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE) – The Village of Ruidoso says it's ready to welcome back visitors after flooding swept through part of the village earlier this month, killing three people and leaving homes and businesses damaged. 'But the simple fact is, the majority of the town is in great shape. The Midtown shopping area is in great shape. You know, there's just so many wonderful things to do,' said Mayor Lynn Crawford, who acknowledged that the decision to welcome back visitors comes with controversy. 'We've got businesses, families that have businesses, employees with families that they're dependent on that for livelihood. So that's the reason we're moving forward is, you know, the overall well-being of the community.' Annual Elephant Butte Balloon Regatta canceled The village is entering the beginning stages of recovery mode after heavy monsoonal rains fell on the 2024 South Fork and Salt fire burn scar areas on July 8. The historic flooding caused the Rio Ruidoso to rise to 20 feet, five feet higher than the previous record in 2024. A man and two children died in the flooding, and dozens of others had to be rescued from the flood waters, which swept houses and trees away and left many areas of the village, including Upper Canyon, Brady Canyon, and the nearby Ruidoso Downs Race track, damaged. The mayor said the village is looking at $1 billion worth of damage. 'What we're talking about with the flooding, that's going to go on for a few years until we are able to get on forestry land. And that's honestly the conversations we're having right now with the federal government, the state government, is we've got to get up there and do work on the mountain where this starts. And then things will change here drastically once we get that done,' Crawford explained. While the village works on its recovery, for now, it is moving on and adjusting to a new reality, which includes potential frequent flooding in burn scar areas. The mayor said the village has a plan in place and monitors the weather with the help of a meteorologist at its 24/7 emergency operations center. If the weather poses a threat, the village has and will continue to send out alerts online, to smartphones, and on the radio via KRUI The Mountain. Staff will also go out into the community to warn people if needed. 'We have all of our utility trucks that go into the flood-prone areas that we see coming, knock on doors. We have a PA system in each one of the vehicles that we can talk through so you can hear it off the road to let people know, 'Hey, it's coming. Stay where you're at, or you need to move,'' said Crawford. The mayor said the best thing people can do in the village is to keep an eye on their surroundings by looking out for storms in the sky, knowing their proximity to water, and staying on high ground. 'We understand that there's some apprehension, and that that's certainly understandable, but we've taken so many measures to warn people, to, you know, try to make people aware, and if you're at high ground, you know, you're safe, just know your surroundings. If it starts clouding up, start listening to the radio that you can listen to on your phone. If you get a warning, pay attention to that,' Crawford explained. List of resources created by the Village of Ruidoso: Learn about monsoon season: Village of Ruidoso on Facebook: Download the 'Discover Ruidoso' app (available in the app store) – This is your pocket guide to everything Ruidoso! In the app's sidebar, you'll find the RAIN map that includes: Current weather conditions Road closures and updates Low-level crossing information Our trusted Flood Safe Partners Radio: The Mountain FM 99.1 | AM 1490 for weather updates. Important information and alerts are also shared via the Midtown speaker system, the village said. Ruidoso tourism looking ahead The Ruidoso Downs Race Track, a major economic driver in the area, remains closed due to damage suffered in the flooding. While the track hopes to rebuild and open in 2026, the Ruidoso is relying on other means to draw tourists— apart from those seeking a mountain escape—to the area. One large event that is coming up is the XTERRA Triathlon. The event was booked before this latest round of flooding and is still set to take place, bringing in hundreds of athletes. 'The XTERRA people are coming. They say 'you guys are the epitome of what we stand for, resiliency, determination, you know, you get knocked down, you get right back up, that's what we do,'' said Mayor Crawford. Once this race wraps up, the village will then prepare to host the XTERRA World Championship and New Mexico's first-ever IRONMAN-branded triathlon, both set to take place in 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
