The flood in Roswell, New Mexico, USA, became a tragedy due to record rainfall that began on the evening of Saturday, October 19th. The town, known for the 1947 UFO crash, was at the epicenter of a powerful storm. As a result of the Spring River overflow, an "extreme flood" submerged the downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods.
Roswell received 5.78 inches of rainfall in 24 hours — a record since observations began in 1901. This is four times the average rainfall for the region for the entire month of October.
The water quickly rose, flooding homes, stores, and streets. The situation worsened overnight, as rescue services, including police, firefighters, and the National Guard, began evacuating those affected. More than fifty guardsmen participated in the operation, using specialized vehicles capable of moving through water up to four feet deep. Around 300 people were rescued overnight, 38 of whom were taken to hospitals.
Some people had to wait for help on the roofs of their cars, which were completely submerged. Several vehicles were swept away by the water into the riverbed.
Water penetrated many buildings, and debris on the roads created additional obstacles for rescue services.
The city airport was forced to suspend all flights until Monday due to the storm's aftermath. All roads leading to and from Roswell were closed.
Despite the rescuers' efforts, there were casualties. Authorities confirmed the deaths of two people as a result of the flood. Rescue operations continued the next day, as the water level in the city remained critically high. Authorities urged residents to stay home and avoid flooded streets.
The climate threat is growing. Anyone can find themselves in the epicenter of a deadly disaster at any moment.
It's time to realize that this problem won't go away on its own. We need urgent extraordinary measures to protect people's lives.
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