SANTA FE, N.M. – In response to severe flash flooding in Ruidoso, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an emergency declaration late Tuesday night, calling for immediate federal assistance and mobilizing state resources to support the affected community.
“Ruidoso endured devastating wildfires and flooding last summer, and now catastrophic flooding is hitting this resilient community again,” the governor said in a statement. “This crisis demands immediate action.”
The emergency declaration is intended to expedite the arrival of federal response teams and repair resources. The governor confirmed that additional federal support is already en route.
“New Mexico is mobilizing every resource we have,” she added. “But Ruidoso needs federal support to recover from this disaster. We’ve watched Texas receive the federal resources they desperately needed, and Ruidoso deserves that same urgent response.”
The flooding follows heavy rainfall over the South Fork burn scar, which led to widespread damage, road closures, and water rescues. Local officials have confirmed that some residents are currently unaccounted for.
Emergency shelters have been opened across the area, and state and local agencies continue to assist with rescue and recovery efforts.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
