State Emergency Operations Center prepares for flash flooding
SANTA FE – The state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) is prepositioning equipment and personnel in areas expected to experience flash flooding this week.
The National Weather Service in Albuquerque is forecasting heavy rainfall and increasing flash flood risk across the state. Burn scar areas will be at “high” or “very high” risk for flooding through Wednesday.
Swift water teams from Sandoval County, City of Las Cruces, City of Santa Fe, and the New Mexico National Guard will be stationed near communities that are forecast to experience burn scar flooding.
DHSEM has coordinated the delivery of sandbags to Grant County and Village of Ruidoso and is preparing more to fill any other request that comes from local emergency managers. Residents in need of sandbags should check with municipal or county officials for pick up locations.
“We’ve all seen how quickly rainfall can become dangerous – especially in burn scar areas – so we are are making sure we have the resources in place to rapidly and effectively respond to any potential flash flooding emergencies,”,” said Maj. Gen. Miguel Aguilar, Adjutant General of the NM National Guard and Interim Cabinet Secretary of DHSEM.
DSHEM encourages residents to stay informed, pay attention to emergency alerts, and take steps to stay safe from flooding including:
- If told to evacuate, do so immediately.
- If you are not told to evacuate, shelter in place. Get to the highest point of your home or the building you are in.
- Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Turn Around. Don’t Drown!
- Never drive around barricades.
- Listen to EAS, NOAA Weather Radio or local alerting systems for current emergency information and instructions regarding flooding.
- Stay off bridges over fast-moving water. Fast-moving water can wash bridges away without warning.
- Stay inside your car if it is trapped in rapidly moving water. Get on the roof if water is rising inside the car.
Find more information about flood safety on our website.