New Mexico flooding prompted Gov. Susana Martinez to declare an emergency, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate to emergency shelters, CNN reported Friday.
Due to the heavy New Mexico flooding, Gov. Susana Martinez declared emergency, leading to evacuations by air and ground in Eddy County in southeastern New Mexico, Sierra County in the southwest part of the state as well as in San Miguel County in the northeast.
Reports said that Martinez's declaration provided sufficient fund for state emergency officials in assisting local authorities and in directing the National Guard to respond on risky situations as needed.
Meanwhile, a state police diver and local firefighters helped several people who were trapped by the rising Pecos River about 10 miles west of Roswell.
Officials said the diver had to repeatedly cross 30 feet of chest-deep rushing water as he carried members of the trapped group including children and elderly people to safety. The evacuees were reportedly rushed to an American Red Cross shelter.
Public Information Officer of the Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management Esteban Lujan said that fifty people were moved to a Red Cross center at the high school in Las Vegas in northeast New Mexico.
Lujan added that in Truth or Consequences, some bridges and roads were washed out and about 20 people have been evacuated as of late.
Truth or Consequences officials said people around Las Animas and Palomas Creeks were asked to immediately leave their homes and head to the city's convention center.
SFGate reported that though the number of residents affected has not been identified, authorities are now more concerned with the drought-stricken city after Rio Grande surged its banks.
The National Weather Service announced that the threat of the New Mexico flooding will continue through the weekend.
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