TRANSCRIPT:
On September 19th, intense monsoon
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storms once again threatened Lincoln
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County, New Mexico. The rainfall caused
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flash flooding in communities already
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weakened by previous disasters,
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confirming that the risk remains present
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in this region of the southwestern
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United States.
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The National Weather Service issued an
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immediate alert for the southeastern
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part of the county, warning that
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rainfall was concentrated in highly
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vulnerable areas. Areas scarred by the
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Blue Two, South Fork, and McBride fires
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were identified as the epicenter of risk
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as the loss of vegetation has
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drastically reduced the soil's ability
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to absorb water.
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Ground conditions have favored an
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increase in runoff velocity and with it
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the possibility of debris flows. The
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impact was immediate on major roads.
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Roads such as Mechham Drive, Gavlin
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Canyon Road, and Cree Meadows Drive were
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closed as a precaution to reduce the
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risk of serious accidents.
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[Music]
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These closures reflect a problem that is
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not new. Just two months earlier on July
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8th, 2025, the community of Ruidoso
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faced the worst flooding in its recent
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history. That day, the Ruidoso River
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reached a record level of 20.24 ft,
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transforming intense rainfall into a
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major catastrophe in minutes.
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The water swept away a home, damaged
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other properties and businesses, and
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left behind destroyed vehicles, down
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trees, and tons of debris. Three people
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lost their lives while emergency crews
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performed multiple water rescues to
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evacuate those trapped in the current.
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The July tragedy was directly related to
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the wildfires of recent years. The
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destruction of vegetation turned the
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soil into a water repellent surface
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unable to retain moisture. Since then,
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each storm has found to rain with no
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water retention capacity, turning any
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rainfall into a flash flood threat.
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[Music]
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Following that disaster, the federal
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government declared a major disaster
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under code DR4886
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andM, which allowed resources and
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support to be channeled to the affected
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communities. However, recent September
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rains confirmed that recovery will be
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slow and that the risk has not
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disappeared.
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The 2025 monsoon season has tested the
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resilience of all of New Mexico. In
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August, another storm caused damage to
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Interstate 25 near Santa Fe. On August
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1st, a flash flood warning was issued
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for a key section of the highway between
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mile markers 270 and 286.
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That event resulted in accumulated
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rainfall of between 0.5 and 1.5 in with
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the possibility of up to 1.25 in. The
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deficiencies of the drainage
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infrastructure were evident when ponding
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formed, complicating traffic. Although a
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complete closure of the roadway was not
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required, motorists face delays and
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dangerous driving conditions.
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These events have shown that not only
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rural communities are at risk. Even
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major roads and urban areas can be
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exposed in a matter of minutes to
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intense rainfall.
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The damage has also affected the
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agricultural sector. Historic irrigation
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ditches and canals in the ACI have
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suffered severe damage from overflowing
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water, disrupting crops and highlighting
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the fragility of traditional irrigation
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systems in the face of extreme storms.
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The indirect influence of tropical storm
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Mario has also played a role in this
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scenario. Its remnants increased
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humidity in regions of California,
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Nevada, and Arizona. Although the
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heaviest rainfall did not reach Ruidoso,
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still in New Mexico, monsoon rains
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remain the leading cause of emergencies.
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The sequence of events in July, August,
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and September shows an alarming pattern
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of continuity. But the situation is not
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limited to New Mexico. On September 19th
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in Arizona, a woman died in Coochis
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County after being swept away by a
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stream while another man was rescued in
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the same area.
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[Music]
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Hours later at the Lavender Pit Mine,
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another worker was trapped and had to be
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evacuated by a rescue helicopter
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dispatched from Tucson. In Phoenix, a
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person was rescued after being trapped
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in his vehicle during early morning
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flooding.
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The storms in Arizona were accompanied
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by hail, lightning, and heavy rain. A
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quarter of an inch of precipitation was
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recorded at Sky Harbor International
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Airport, confirming that atmospheric
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instability is spreading to several
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areas of the state.
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I drive right through.
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Authorities have warned that storms will
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continue in the coming days with
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temperatures near 100° F that could
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further increase instability
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in communities such as Alto, Hondo, and
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Capitan. Recent rains have overflowed
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small streams that normally remain dry
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for much of the year. These intermittent
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streams, suddenly saturated, have
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invaded streets, yards, and residential
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driveways, creating an unexpected
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situation for hundreds of families who
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saw the water approach their homes
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without time to prepare.
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In Ruidoso Downs, the rising river has
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left visible signs of destruction. The
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water has deposited large amounts of
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sediment and logs in recreational areas
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and local businesses, disrupting
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economic activities and forcing
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temporary closures. Residents still
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fresh in the memories of the July losses
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have had to improvise sand and rock
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barricades to divert the flow to less
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populated areas.
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Urban drainage infrastructure,
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particularly in the low-lying areas of
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Ruidoso, has demonstrated its
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vulnerability to rainfall of this
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magnitude. The sewers collapsed in a
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matter of minutes, causing water to
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accumulate on main streets and making it
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difficult for ambulances and emergency
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vehicles to navigate. This type of
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blockage has increased the perception of
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insecurity among residents who feel that
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each storm represents a new danger.
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