The village of Ruidoso is located in the southern part of New Mexico and is a noted vacation spot boasting camping and recreation amid its expansive forest landscape. World Population Review notes the village rose to a total of 7,600 in 2025. That was a decrease of the population by less than 1% in recent years.

In a span of 90 minutes Tuesday, torrential rainfall triggered record flooding as village officials were in the middle of a scheduled meeting.

Officials say that upwards of 50 homes were damaged by Tuesday's flooding. Emergency crews are working to clear debris.

The flash flood emergency was triggered at 3 p.m. in Ruidoso on Tuesday, July 8. Swift water teams were out conducting rescues, officials said.

The owner of the Ruidoso Trading Post is staying strong, even after flooding buried millions of dollars worth of merchandise Tuesday.

Recent flash flooding events have claimed lives and damaged property in Texas, North Carolina, Illinois and New Mexico. While all extreme weather events have been associated with their own triggering mechanisms,

The Governor of New Mexico has signed an emergency declaration asking help from the federal government for help as Ruidoso deals with flooding.

The summer rainy season in New Mexico usually brings daily alerts about the potential for flooding around the arid state.