safety
Ruidoso Resilience: How a community is recovering from deadly flooding a year later
By Andrew J. Polk at KVIA ABC-7
· July 9, 2026
· 7 min read
RUIDOSO, N.M. (KVIA) -- It's been two years since wildfires scorched areas surrounding the Village of Ruidoso high in the Sierra Blanca mountains. Just a year ago this week, heavy rains on those burned areas sent runoff rushing down the Rio Ruidoso -- causing deadly flash flooding.
Three peopl...
Key takeaway (KVIA) -- It's been two years since wildfires scorched areas surrounding the Village of Ruidoso high in the Sierra Blanca mountains.
Why this matters in The El Paso
The recovery efforts in Ruidoso have significant implications for El Paso County, which has its own history of flash flooding and wildfire risks. As Ruidoso works to build resilience in the face of natural disasters, El Paso can learn from its neighbor's experiences. The challenges Ruidoso faces in securing funding to clear homes and structures in flood-prone areas are likely to resonate with El Paso officials, who have grappled with similar issues in the past. Moreover, the impact of wildfires and flooding on local businesses and economies is a concern that transcends county lines, and El Paso's own business community may be watching Ruidoso's progress with interest. As Ruidoso's mayor notes, the road to full recovery will be long, but the community's optimism and determination to rebuild are qualities that El Paso can appreciate and learn from.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 9, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 7 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? RUIDOSO, N.M. (KVIA) -- It's been two years since wildfires scorched areas surrounding the Village of Ruidoso high in the Sierra Blanca mountains. Just a year ago this week, heavy rains on those burned areas sent runoff rushing down the Rio Ruidoso -- causing deadly flash flooding.
Three peopl...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 9, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Andrew J. Polk at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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