2 dead after 'historic' deluge in New Mexico floods streets, homes
Two people are dead and nearly 300 others have been rescued in and around Roswell, New Mexico, after record-breaking rainfall flooded homes, inundated roadways, and shuttered an airport, officials said Sunday.
The City of Roswell urged people to stay off the roads, noting some people were forced to wait on the roofs of their cars as streets flooded and their vehicles were covered in water. Floodwaters have also entered homes and other buildings, according to Roswell officials.
"Flooding-response efforts continue, and some areas remain dangerous," the city said in a social media post. "Debris on the streets also poses a danger. The less traffic on the streets, the more efficiently cleanup work can take place."
The New Mexico National Guard said it has rescued 290 people, 38 of whom were transported to local hospitals. Nearly 60 members of the National Guard were on the ground for rescue efforts in the flood's brutal aftermath, adding they will remain in Roswell for "as long as necessary."
New Mexico State Police Officer Amanda Richards confirmed two storm-related fatalities in the Roswell area to Paste BN late Sunday. No additional details were immediately provided.
Intensive flooding and storm debris also forced Roswell Air Center, an airport roughly 5 miles from the city, to cancel flights through Monday morning. Roswell officials said an assessment will be conducted to determine whether flights can resume Monday afternoon.
Rainfall began on Friday and is expected to continue throughout Sunday, according to Carter Greulich, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Albuquerque. Heavy rains started Saturday night between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. local time.
Roswell is a city of about 48,000 residents and is famous for the alleged crash of a UFO in 1947.
Record rainfall
It's the state's first fall storm, and it broke a daily record that was over 120 years old.
On Saturday, Roswell received 5.78 inches of rain, breaking the single-day record from 1901 of 5.65 inches, according to the weather service.
The amount of rain brought to the city is "an extremely unusual historic event" for Roswell, Greulich said.
The city's surrounding areas also received between 4 to 8 inches of rain, with one area receiving as much as 7.81 inches of rain.
Residents asked to stay off roads
People in Roswell and the surrounding areas should avoid flooded roads and "do your best just to keep yourself in a safe situation," Greulich said.
Homes have flooded because of the storm, according to the city. A shelter was set up at the Eastern New Mexico State Fairground for those who need to evacuate.
The City of Roswell police and fire departments, Chaves County Sheriff's Office and county volunteer fire departments, state police, National Guard and other agencies from surrounding cities are assisting in rescue operations.
When will floods end?
On Sunday, the weather service could not predict when the floodwaters would go down.
The city has shifted to recovery efforts, but smaller rivers and streams are overwhelmed by the rainfall "and it's not a super sloped area," said Greulich. "So the water is going to take a little bit to recede."
Debris could also be blocking waterways, which can affect how and when the flood water in the area will go away.
Contributing: Daniel Borunda, El Paso Times; Minnah Arshad, Paste BN