The terrible things happening in central Texas have stunned people all throughout the country and the world. At least 107 people died in flash flooding on Friday.
Families are still hunting for their loved ones, and rescue teams are still working hard on the ground.
But just as the country was trying to deal with that tragic loss, another weather disaster hit, this time in New Mexico.
The victims were hurt really badly.
A terrible wall of water hit the town of Ruidoso on Tuesday afternoon. Ruidoso sits in the Sierra Blanca Mountains, some 180 miles south of Albuquerque. This happened as the monsoon rains came down quickly on hillsides that had been scorched by wildfires. The water ripped through the town because there was nowhere else to go.
There were a 4-year-old girl, a 7-year-old boy, and a man who was assumed to be between 40 and 50 years old among the victims. Officials reported late Tuesday that the floodwaters that hit the area were so strong that they “swept downstream” all the victims.
This was written by Bob Pankey on July 8, 2025.
NBC says that Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford said in the statement, “The whole Village of Ruidoso sends our deepest condolences and compassion to these grieving families during this unimaginably difficult time.”
“We’re all sad and determined to help each other get through this awful loss.”
“Flooding that set records”
The Rio Ruidoso got to a record-breaking 20 feet, which is five feet higher than the former record. It went from a small creek on a mountain to a raging torrent.
The town said in a statement that “All three people were caught in the rushing floodwaters and carried downstream during the catastrophic flooding event.”
Fern Trail and Grindstone Canyon Road
This was posted by Marissa Henson on July 8, 2025.
The floods happened swiftly because of monsoon rain that dropped on terrain that was still recuperating from the South Fork and Salt Fires last summer.
The fires burnt more than 17,000 acres and damaged hundreds of homes. The soil was hydrophobic, which meant it couldn’t soak up water. This made things worse.
Loss, heartbreak, and disorder
NBC adds that emergency crews completed as many as 60 quick-water rescues on Tuesday, and search-and-rescue efforts went on all night.
A lot of individuals had to go to the hospital, and there were rumors that horses died in the floods. People shared videos on social media of homes being taken away, gas leaks, and whole neighborhoods being buried in mudslides.
One scary video showed a house rolling down the river and hitting trees. People used to walk across the small waterways in this community, thus this was an unimaginable sight.
People in the community have started to name the victims.
Tiffanie Wyatt, who had been searching for her niece and nephew, finally got the bad news that both had died in the floods. Darnell Benally also reported that Charlotte, who is 5, and Sebastian Trotter, who is 7, didn’t make it either. The last time they were seen was at Midtown RV Park.
The effect was worse than expected.
Mayor Crawford, who was still terrified, saw some of the worst floodwaters he had ever seen.
She said, “This flood hit us harder than we thought it would.”
And the risk isn’t over yet.
The National Weather Service sent out a flash flood warning because of the storms that were expected during New Mexico’s monsoon season, which usually lasts until early September.
On July 8, 2025, Bob Pankey wrote this.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham moved fast, signing a request for an emergency declaration late on Tuesday.
“Last summer, Ruidoso had terrible wildfires and floods. Now, this strong community is facing terrible flooding again,” she remarked. “This crisis needs action right away.”
Community shelters: Officials told people who were safe and dry to stay there, and they asked family members who couldn’t reach their loved ones to phone the emergency operations center and report them as missing.
The fatalities are being looked into by the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and a number of other groups.
This was put up by Bob Pankey on July 8, 2025.
But for now, the most important things are staying alive, mourning, and being with others.
“This town has been through hell,” remarked one volunteer at the emergency shelter. “And somehow, we keep getting hit.”
From the flooded streets of Texas to the wrecked hills of New Mexico, families are mourning, homes are gone, and communities will never be the same again. These aren’t just awful weather events; they’re disasters that happen to humans.
Now more than ever, the people of Ruidoso and central Texas need our help, our voices, and our love.