On June 8, the mountain town of Ruidoso, New Mexico—still struggling to rebuild after last year’s devastating wildfires—was struck by catastrophic flash floods. Torrential rains unleashed widespread destruction, washing out roads, damaging homes, and forcing multiple swift-water rescues. Mayor Lynn Crawford described it as one of the worst disasters in the town’s history. Along with mudslides and gas leaks, several lives were tragically lost, including a man, a four-year-old girl, and a seven-year-old boy.
The flooding was worsened by wildfire-scorched soil that had become hydrophobic, unable to absorb rain. As a result, the Rio Ruidoso surged to an unprecedented 20-foot crest, sweeping away cars and homes in terrifying scenes captured on video. New Mexico’s governor declared a state of emergency and called for federal assistance. Emergency shelters have been opened, and search and rescue efforts are ongoing as the town struggles to recover.
Meanwhile, Central Texas endured its own tragedy as flash floods devastated parts of Kerr County. At least 43 lives were lost, many of them children attending summer camps. Camp Mystic, a long-standing Christian camp, became the center of rescue operations when rising waters from the Guadalupe River engulfed the area. What is normally a peaceful river turned deadly as a sudden “flood wave” surged downstream after intense rainfall.
As both New Mexico and Texas continue urgent rescue and recovery operations, officials are pleading with residents in unaffected areas to stay home and report any missing persons. The heartbreak is immense, with entire communities grieving losses and comforting survivors. In the wake of these back-to-back disasters, families, neighbors, and first responders are leaning on each other for strength, compassion, and hope to rebuild from the devastation.