Overview

• Three people—a man and two children aged four and seven—were swept away by Tuesday’s flash floods and later confirmed dead as waters receded.
• Emergency responders, including National Guard teams, completed more than 85 swift-water rescues during late-afternoon peak river levels.
• The Rio Ruidoso reached a provisional crest of 20.24 feet, pending official confirmation, after rising over six metres in under an hour.
• Three additional flood victims remain hospitalized in stable condition and shelters have been opened for displaced residents.
• Search and rescue operations continue to comb debris from burned terrain stripped by last year’s South Fork and Salt fires.