Flash flooding forced many to evacuate as water overtopped dams and flooded rivers in Dona Ana County
DOÑA ANA COUNTY, N.M. —
Unprecedented flooding along the Rio Grande forced the evacuation of the villages of Hatch, Rincon, and Garfield in southern New Mexico, as heavy rains caused dams to over top and streams to overflow their banks.
Alessandra Analis, a farmer in Garfield, said her family’s crops were submerged on Wednesday.
“We’ve been waiting for water, waiting for water all year, and I don’t think anyone expected it to come all at once, especially in one day,” Analis said.
Some of the crops are located near McLeod Dam, which officials have warned is in imminent danger of breaching. Analis captured cellphone videos of water rushing down shortly before being ordered to evacuate.
“No one could have imagined what’s going on there or prepared for it, we weren’t prepared for it,” she said.
A farmer described seeing unprecedented water levels in a canal near McLeod Dam, where New Mexico Department of Transportation workers were clearing debris from the road.
As rain continued to pour, the entire village of Hatch was ordered to evacuate. Police officers were seen going door to door, telling residents to leave.
The flooding has brought back memories of the devastating Hatch flood of 2006, which occurred 20 years ago in August.
Evacuated residents, including Analis, are hoping the remaining dams and levees in the area, including McLeod Dam, will hold up.
“I mean it was honestly a scary scene earlier when it was just overflowing. So I can’t imagine if the rain picks up and it rains all night and it truly does erode on one end and open up, it would be pretty scary,” Analis said.
