5.78 inches of rain on Saturday caused flash flooding
https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/local/new-mexico/2024/10/20/roswell-nm-flooding-turns-deadly-as-record-rainfall-hits-ufo-town/75764878007/
Roswell flooding turns deadly as record-rainfall soaks New Mexico town
Oct 20, 2024
A powerful storm dropped a record amount of rain causing dangerous flooding with one confirmed death Saturday night in Roswell, New Mexico, weather and local authorities said.
The Spring River channel overflowed causing what the National Weather Service in Albuquerque described as "extreme flooding" in downtown Roswell and throughout the southeastern New Mexico town of about 48,000 residents famous for the alleged crash of a UFO in 1947.
Roswell was drenched in 5.78 inches of rain, setting an all-time daily record on Saturday, Oct. 19, the National Weather Service in Albuquerque reported. The previous record was 5.65 inches set on Nov. 1, 1901.
More flash flooding is possible with more rain and storms in the forecast for Sunday in the Roswell region of eastern New Mexico, the National Weather Service stated.
Roswell, NM flooding rescue efforts
The New Mexico National Guard said that its troops and other agencies rescued nearly 300 people in the overnight hours, including at least one swift water rope rescue and 38 people who were taken to hospitals.
Search and rescue efforts continued Sunday morning as water levels remained high in the downtown area, the city of Roswell said in a statement. Flood waters entered many houses and other buildings.
NEW MEXICO
Roswell flooding turns deadly as record-rainfall soaks New Mexico town
Portrait of Daniel BorundaDaniel Borunda
El Paso Times
A powerful storm dropped a record amount of rain causing dangerous flooding with one confirmed death Saturday night in Roswell, New Mexico, weather and local authorities said.
The Spring River channel overflowed causing what the National Weather Service in Albuquerque described as "extreme flooding" in downtown Roswell and throughout the southeastern New Mexico town of about 48,000 residents famous for the alleged crash of a UFO in 1947.
Roswell was drenched in 5.78 inches of rain, setting an all-time daily record on Saturday, Oct. 19, the National Weather Service in Albuquerque reported. The previous record was 5.65 inches set on Nov. 1, 1901.
More flash flooding is possible with more rain and storms in the forecast for Sunday in the Roswell region of eastern New Mexico, the National Weather Service stated.
Roswell, NM flooding rescue efforts
The New Mexico National Guard said that its troops and other agencies rescued nearly 300 people in the overnight hours, including at least one swift water rope rescue and 38 people who were taken to hospitals.
Search and rescue efforts continued Sunday morning as water levels remained high in the downtown area, the city of Roswell said in a statement. Flood waters entered many houses and other buildings.
Many vehicles got stuck in flash flood waters with some vehicles swept into the river channel. Other motorists waited to be rescued on top of their vehicles that were covered by water, Roswell authorities reported.
All roads leading to and from Roswell had been closed due to heavy flooding overnight, New Mexico State Police said.
Rescue operations taking place involve the Roswell police and fire departments, the Chaves County Sheriff's Office, county volunteer fire departments and New Mexico State Police and the state's National Guard.
The National Guard is using light/medium tactical vehicles, known as LMTVs, capable of driving in up to four feet of water to transport residents to safety. There were 57 guardsmen in Roswell as of Sunday morning, the National Guard said in a statement.
"We feel for the New Mexicans affected by this latest flooding in our state," Maj. Gen. Miguel Aguilar, the NM National Guard's adjutant general, said in a statement. "Because of the previous flooding in Ruidoso, we have the experience and were ready for this. We've worked all night, and continue to work with swift water rescue teams and other partner agencies to help our fellow citizens get to safety."