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At least two dead in Roswell after New Mexico floods

Posted on by L. Dreeye
At least two dead in Roswell after New Mexico floods

At least two people died in Roswell and hundreds more had to be rescued after record rainfall was reported in parts of New Mexico over the weekend.

ROSWELL, New Mexico – Heavy rain caused catastrophic flooding in parts of New Mexico over the weekend, killing at least two people in the Roswell area and leaving hundreds of residents trapped in their homes and vehicles as water rose around them.

The record-breaking event began Friday and continued through Sunday due to a slow-moving upper-level low pressure system located atop the Four Corners region in the Southwest, according to the FOX Forecast Center.

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Video taken in Roswell, New Mexico shows the aftermath of deadly flooding reported in parts of New Mexico over the weekend.

On Saturday, NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center (WPC) warned that heavy precipitation could cause flash flooding in the region.

That forecast came true late Saturday as rain and thunderstorms moved through the Roswell area, ultimately leading to a rare flash flood emergency as waters quickly rose.

Rainfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour were reported by the FOX Forecast Center, which exceeded the average hourly rainfall rate for October, November and December combined.

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Drone video shows a bird’s-eye view of the destruction left behind by deadly flooding in Roswell, New Mexico over the weekend.

New Mexico State Police confirmed at least two deaths from the Roswell flood, and the New Mexico National Guard said nearly 300 people needed to be rescued, including about 38 people who needed to be taken to local hospitals for treatment.

“We sympathize with the New Mexicans impacted by this latest flooding in our state,” Maj. Gen. Miguel Aguilar, adjutant general of the New Mexico National Guard, said in a statement. “Due to the previous flood in RuidosoWe have experience and we were ready for this.”

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Video taken in Roswell, New Mexico, shows a destroyed car being swallowed up by floodwaters after record rain hit the region over the weekend.

City officials said many motorists were stranded by the flooding, with some people forced to sit on the roof of their cars while waiting for help.

“Some cars were washed into the river bed,” city officials said on Facebook.

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Chaves County Sheriff Mike Herrington recorded video Sunday morning showing flooding around his squad car and urged people to stay home. A rare flash flood emergency was declared in the area as heavy rain and thunderstorms hit the region on Saturday.

Among those trapped was Chaves County Sheriff Mike Herrington, who took to Facebook to describe the unfolding situation.

“I’m sitting on the roof of my police truck at this time,” he said in a Facebook video. “At this time I am completely surrounded by water.”

Several other vehicles in the video can be seen surrounded by floodwaters.

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Video filmed in Roswell, New Mexico shows the devastation left behind by catastrophic and deadly flooding over the weekend.

“There are several vehicles,” he said. “I came here not expecting so much water. And before I knew it, I was swept away into it. Several vehicles were also demolished. So to all of you in Chaves County, please stay home. Don’t leave. outside.”

The Roswell airport officially received 5.78 inches of rain on Saturday, according to the FOX Forecast Center, which is currently the wettest day in the location’s history. The previous record was set on November 1, 1901, at 5.65 inches.