RUIDOSO, N.M. — The mountain village of Ruidoso is grappling with the aftermath of flash flooding, just a year after enduring devastating wildfires and flooding. The recent disaster has left a grim scene, with broken tree limbs, twisted metal, crumpled vehicles, and muddy debris strewn across the area following a flash flood on July 8, 2025, that claimed the lives of three individuals, including two young children. The flooding significantly damaged approximately 50 homes, with one residence completely washed away.
Tracy Haragan, a lifelong Ruidoso resident nearing retirement, witnessed the flood first-hand as it swept away the possessions of nine neighboring households. "You watched everything they owned, everything they had — everything went down," he remarked, emphasizing the town's resilience despite repeated disasters. Ruidoso has been a popular summer retreat but has faced ongoing challenges from natural calamities.
The flooding began with a severe bout of monsoon rains that overwhelmed the Rio Ruidoso, a river that runs through the town. Water surged down the mountainside, leading to the tragic loss of a man, a 4-year-old girl, and a 7-year-old boy from an RV park along the river. Their bodies were later recovered downstream. According to reports, the children's parents are currently receiving medical treatment in Texas, where the father is stationed at Fort Bliss.
Mayor Lynn Crawford expressed the collective heartbreak felt within the community over the loss of life and the extent of the destruction. Rebuilding efforts will be especially daunting as Ruidoso has only recently begun the process of recovery from last year's destructive wildfires and the flooding that followed.
Riverside RV Park owner Barbara Arthur noted that her guests were forced to flee to higher ground when the river began to rise. Tragically, she also lost her home in the flooding. This incident marked the sixth time the river has surged due to heavy rainfall in recent weeks, with Tuesday's rain being particularly excessive due to the inability of the wildfire burn scar to absorb additional moisture. The floodwaters of the Rio Ruidoso rose over 20 feet, setting a new record that surpassed the previous high recorded in July 2024 by nearly 5 feet.
The National Weather Service reported that approximately 3.5 inches of rain fell over the South Fork burn scar within just an hour and a half. Meteorologist Todd Shoemake indicated that the flooding was exacerbated by runoff from upstream that occurred before the rainfall began. He likened it to a "100-year storm," which implies a 1% chance of occurring in any given year.
Emergency crews conducted numerous swift water rescues during the flooding. Prior to the disaster, two National Guard teams, along with local emergency response crews, were already stationed in the area. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has sought a presidential disaster declaration, outlining over $50 million in emergency expenditures, including those related to public infrastructure damage in Ruidoso and surrounding areas during recent monsoon storms.
In response to the recurring flooding, Ruidoso has requested $100 million in federal assistance to convert flood-prone private land into public property, aiming to mitigate future disaster risks. The town is currently facing economic turmoil due to the floods disrupting its tourism-based economy, notably affecting local events such as horse racing at Ruidoso Downs.
Local officials conveyed that the village was in the process of replacing outdoor warning sirens that had been damaged during last year’s wildfire when the flood struck. Mayor Crawford emphasized that Ruidoso continues to be at risk, particularly as the region enters its monsoon season from June to September. The river remains sediment-laden, presenting a risk of future water level increases.
In light of these ongoing challenges, the mayor reflected on the power of nature: "Mother Nature is a much bigger, powerful force than we are, and that we can do a lot of things to protect ourselves and to try to help direct, but we cannot control."
