RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE) – Flash flooding is devastating the Ruidoso area with more rain on the way this week. That’s left one business owner, who has been helping keep residents and first responders fed, out of commission as he cleans up the damage.
“This flood that came was, this was not in a normal flood zone. It wasn’t somewhere we’ve seen flooding like this you know it was crazy,” said Chris Mendoza, owner of Dr. Munchies y Mas.
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Flash flooding wreaked havoc in Ruidoso over the weekend. “We saw an 18-wheeler being pushed by the flood and we saw a truck flipped over by the flood,” said Mendoza.
Mendoza was working in his food truck feeding evacuees near the “Y” between Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs when he was forced to flee to higher ground. “That was a nightmare, especially when your business is sitting there in the middle of it,” said Mendoza.
All he could do was watch and wait for the water to recede. “I wanna say it was a good four hours of water rushing down that canyon,” said Mendoza.
“The intersection of Sudderth and Highway 70 down there in that corridor it was very dicey,” said Public Information Officer Kerry Gladden, Village of Ruidoso.
“We’ve never seen anything like it here I can tell you that it was pretty crazy just the sheer amount of water that was coming through the town,” said Gladden.
Village officials said in some spots water rose to eight or nine feet, prompting up to nearly 80 swift water rescues in two days. “We did have people that were in some of those cars and trucks that were swept down the road but there were no injuries, nobody had to be transported or anything like that,” said Gladden.
Mendoza says the New Mexico Department of Transportation eventually came by and pulled his trailer and truck out of the water but it didn’t escape without some damage including a massive dent on its side. The generator and food inside is a total loss and Mendoza says there’s up to 2 inches of mud to clean up but he’s grateful. “Everything is replaceable, we didn’t lose no lives and that’s the main thing man,” said Mendoza.
He’s hoping to get back out in the community to help as soon as possible. “I’m not afraid to run it with a dent in it that’s for sure, but we’re going to get it cleaned and get it all sanitized and hopefully we’re still at the Capitan rodeo this weekend,” said Mendoza.
Crews worked throughout the night to clear debris in order to re-open Highway 70 Monday morning. The State Department of Homeland Security also announced Monday they are offering debris removal for all residents in Lincoln County.
