On October 19, record rainfall caused massive flash flooding in southeastern New Mexico, killing two people.
New Mexico State Police spokeswoman Amanda Richards told media that two people were killed in the flooding. Nearly 6 inches of rain fell in Roswell on Saturday, breaking the previous record of 5.65 inches that had been set since November 1901.
Video shot by chaser Dean Harper of Roswell shows him, his wife, two dogs, two cats, four snakes and a lizard waiting for rescuers on the balcony of their flooded home. .
Harper told Storyful that her family and pets were trapped on the porch for four hours before being rescued by firefighters.
“Ultimately, the Roswell Fire Department rescued us and took us safely to Fire Station 1, where we waited with the animals for our family to pick us up. We were all safe. I’m at my family’s home,” Harper said.
The city of Roswell warned residents to avoid travel Sunday as city officials said multiple roads were flooded and many motorists were stranded.
Officials later confirmed Roswell Air Center was closed due to the storm and flights were canceled Sunday night and Monday morning. Credit: Chaser Dean Harper (via Storyful)
video transcript
Well, here’s an update on the situation.
Well, it definitely fell on the back wall of the house.
Oh, the car flew away.
There’s a river inside the house.
Well, we’re locked in the front door and so are the animals.
Nikki is here.
She has a cat there.
She has a snake in her backpack.
I have two dogs, a cat on my back, and a river.
This is the front door and that’s where we are.
We think that’s why we’re going backwards.
We believe we have reached its peak.
Everything we owned is gone.
