Massive flooding in New Mexico kills at least 1 person, forces nearly 300 rescues

Unprecedented flooding successful southeast New Mexico killed astatine slightest 1 idiosyncratic successful Roswell and led to astir 300 rescues implicit the weekend, authorities said.

Roswell set a caller rainfall record connected Saturday, leaving underwater galore parts of a metropolis with a colonisation of 48,000.

Even Chaves County Sheriff Mike Herrington was caught up successful the flooding, forcing him to ascent onto the extortion of his bull car arsenic it flooded.

“I came into this not expecting that overmuch water, and earlier I cognize it, I was swept disconnected into this,” Herrington said successful a Facebook video. “Multiple vehicles person been swept distant arsenic well. So to each of you successful Chaves County, delight enactment home. Do not get out.”

Chaves County Sheriff's Office

A photograph from the Chaves County Sheriff’s Office shows flooding adjacent Roswell, New Mexico. (Chaves County Sheriff’s Office)

The New Mexico National Guard led galore rescue efforts successful the area. By Sunday afternoon, 290 radical had been rescued and 38 were hospitalized.

Herrington was not the lone idiosyncratic who was amazed by the floodwaters portion driving. Numerous residents were trapped successful their cars and forced to scramble onto roofs, the metropolis of Roswell said successful a statement.

“Water levels person receded successful galore parts of Roswell but stay precocious successful the downtown country and passim municipality on the Spring River channel, which overflowed,” the metropolis said successful a Facebook station Sunday afternoon.

New Mexico State Police closed each roads into the city and said residents could not permission connected 1 of the large roads, U.S. Route 285, owed to flooding. State constabulary besides rescued astatine slightest 7 radical via helicopter.

Roswell got 5.78 inches of rainfall successful 24 hours connected Saturday, topping a erstwhile grounds acceptable Nov. 1, 1901 of 5.65 inches. Roswell only averages astir 12 inches of precipitation per year.