Severe flash flooding in and around Roswell, New Mexico, killed two people and led emergency crews to rescue 309 others after record-setting rain swept across Chaves County. Thirty-eight of those rescued were taken to hospitals with injuries that authorities did not detail.
The flooding followed thunderstorms that moved across southeastern New Mexico from Saturday into early Sunday. The National Weather Service office in Albuquerque recorded 5.78 inches of rain in Roswell on Saturday, exceeding the city's previous daily record of 5.65 inches, set on November 1, 1901. Rapidly rising water trapped motorists and entered homes and businesses.
New Mexico State Police confirmed the two deaths but had not released information about the victims or the circumstances. National Guard personnel joined local responders in high-water operations, including rescues from vehicles and at least one swift-water rope rescue. Officials said 57 Guard members were deployed with tactical vehicles capable of moving through four feet of water.
The flood also swept vehicles into a river channel. Seven people were rescued after one car was carried away, while Chaves County Sheriff Mike Herrington said he had to climb onto his vehicle roof when water rose as high as its windows. Those incidents illustrated the danger on inundated roads.
The emergency disrupted access across the city. Roads into and out of Roswell were closed on Sunday, with some restrictions continuing into Monday. Water had receded in many neighborhoods by late Sunday, although downtown levels remained high. A shelter was opened at the Eastern New Mexico state fairgrounds for residents forced from their homes.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an emergency declaration for Chaves County on Monday, making $1 million in state funding available for recovery. She also visited Roswell as municipal workers began clearing debris, checking streets and public buildings, and examining water lines. City officials said the municipal water system escaped damage despite the wider destruction.
The flooding also generated false claims online about damage at South Park Cemetery. Chaves County Undersheriff Charles Yslas said graves and tombstones had not been swept away. The cemetery nevertheless remained closed while nearby roads were cleared and made safe.
With rain ending, the immediate focus shifted from rescue to cleanup and damage assessment. Forecasters expected dry conditions through the rest of the week, giving crews a window to reopen routes and inspect affected property. The scale of the rescue effort, however, underscored how quickly an exceptional rainfall event turned streets into dangerous channels and left residents needing emergency assistance across the Roswell area.
