Shocking video captures terrifying moment floodwaters swept away entire house in New Mexico

RUIDOSO, NEW MEXICO: What was supposed to be just another summer afternoon in the serene mountain village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, turned into a disaster on Tuesday, July 8.

A flash flood emergency rocked the small town, leaving behind a trail of chaos, missing persons, and homes swept away like twigs.

CBS News reported that the National Weather Service (NWS) officially sounded the alarm, declaring a flash flood emergency as torrential waters tore through the village. Locals were urged to stay alert as the Rio Ruidoso swelled with such intensity that it shocked even seasoned residents.

Rescue operations underway after sudden flood devastates New Mexico village

One of the hardest-hit areas was Gavilan Trailer Park, where multiple rescues were already underway by the time officials spoke out.

The situation was still unfolding. According to Kerry Gladden, spokesperson for the village, some people are reportedly unaccounted for, though the number remains unclear. She added that injuries have been reported.

The sudden surge followed closely on the heels of the deadly flooding in Texas, where at least 110 people have been reported dead and over 180 remain missing due to catastrophic storms.

For those unfamiliar, Ruidoso is a picturesque mountain village in southern New Mexico, about three hours south of Albuquerque. But recent scenes have been anything but tranquil.

The town’s Office of Emergency Management urgently advised residents near the river to “move to higher ground immediately” and warned against driving through floodwaters. “Do not attempt to drive through the floodwaters. The current will carry away your vehicle!” they stressed.

Photos shared by the National Weather Service gave a glimpse of how quickly the Rio Ruidoso turned deadly. 

Water levels rose dramatically in just one hour, and a haunting Facebook video posted by a local showed an entire home being swept down the river.

Another wild clip showed floodwaters dragging piles of debris down a riverbank before hitting a small bridge and spilling over into the roadway.

NWS issues urgent alerts as Ruidoso faces record-breaking flash flood

Erica Grow Cei, a Public Affairs Specialist for the NWS, told Newsweek via email, “The National Weather Service office in Albuquerque issued a Flood Watch for Flash Flooding for the South Central Mountains including Ruidoso at 2.46 am MDT, in effect for the hours of Noon to 8 pm MDT.”

She continued, “A flash flood warning was issued for the South Fork burn scar in Lincoln County, NM at 2.12 pm MDT today. This warning included the ‘considerable’ flooding tag, which automatically triggers a Wireless Emergency Alert to be issued for the warned area.”

That warning wasn’t for nothing.

"The Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood reached a provisional crest of 20.24 feet this afternoon while significant flash flooding was occurring. If this is confirmed, it would be a record high crest," NWS Albuquerque posted on X. "Flash Flood Warning continues for Ruidoso NM, Ruidoso Downs NM and Hollywood NM until 7.15 pm MDT," it added.

According to reports, it took just one inch of rainfall to trigger the disaster. The rain fell on burn scars left by last year’s wildfires—areas so scorched they couldn’t absorb water fast enough, sending torrents of runoff rushing downhill with devastating force.

The NWS’s official X account also issued a stark warning: "A dangerous situation is unfolding in Ruidoso!" the agency posted. "A flash flood emergency remains in effect! Seek higher ground now! Do not attempt to drive through the floodwaters. The current will carry away your vehicle!" it added.

Ruidoso mayor holds out hope for missing trio as town begins recovery efforts

Amid the chaos, Mayor and Village Manager Lynn Crawford took to the airwaves with a plea: “If you're at home, stay at home. If you're high and dry, that's a good deal right now,” he said.

He confirmed that three people were missing but stopped short of saying whether they were the father and two children previously reported by the National Weather Service as having been swept away. Crawford added that no injuries or deaths had been reported, holding out hope as crews continued their search.

Meanwhile, the town is shifting into recovery mode. Dozens of roads remain closed due to mud, debris, and structural damage. The official Village of Ruidoso Facebook account has also flagged gas leaks, adding further danger to already hazardous conditions.

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