RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE) – Flash flooding is ravaging the Ruidoso area and more rain is expected this week. A business owner who has been helping feed residents and first responders is out of commission while he cleans up the damage.
“This flooding was not in a normal flood zone. It was not a place where we have ever seen flooding like this, it was crazy,” said Chris Mendoza, owner of Dr. Munchies y Mas.
Flash flooding wreaked havoc in Ruidoso this weekend. “We saw a tractor-trailer pushed by the flood and a truck overturned by the flood,” Mendoza said.
Mendoza was working his food truck feeding evacuees near the “Y” between Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs when he was forced to flee to higher ground. “It was a nightmare, especially when your business is right there in the middle of all that,” Mendoza said.
All he could do was watch and wait for the water to recede. “I would say the water was flowing down that canyon for a good four hours,” Mendoza said.
“The intersection of Sudderth and Highway 70, down there in that corridor, was very risky,” said Kerry Gladden, public information officer for the village of Ruidoso.
“We’ve never seen anything like it here. I can tell you it was pretty crazy, just the amount of water that was going through town,” Gladden said.
Village officials said in some places, the water was as high as eight or nine feet, requiring nearly 80 swift-water rescues over two days. “We’ve had people in some of these cars and trucks get swept away, but there’s been no injuries, no one had to be transported or anything like that,” Gladden said.
Mendoza says the New Mexico Department of Transportation eventually came and pulled his trailer and truck out of the water, but they didn’t make it out without some damage, including a huge dent in the side. The generator and food inside are a total loss, and Mendoza says there’s up to two inches of mud to clean up, but he’s grateful. “Everything is replaceable, we didn’t lose any lives, and that’s the main thing,” Mendoza said.
He hopes to be able to get back out into the community to help as soon as possible. “I’m not afraid to roll it with a bump, that’s for sure, but we’re going to get it completely cleaned and sanitized and hopefully we’ll still be at the Capitan Rodeo this weekend,” Mendoza said.
Crews worked through the night to clear debris in order to reopen Interstate 70 Monday morning. The state Department of Homeland Security also announced Monday that it was offering debris removal to all Lincoln County residents.
