Roswell Floods: A Weekend Surprise in the Desert

Over the weekend, Roswell, New Mexico, faced its worst flooding in history. Unusual heavy rain left several people dead and hundreds stranded on roofs. This wasn’t your typical scene for Roswell, known more for its UFO claims than rainfall. Forecasters blamed a stationary storm system that dumped over 5 inches of rain in a day, smashing the city’s old record. The National Guard swung into action, rescuing over 300 people. Some had to be taken to hospitals. Even the sheriff got stuck; he had to climb onto his vehicle to escape the rising waters. A birthday party at the civic center ended suddenly as floodwaters swept in. People scrambled to the roof and stayed there for hours in the cold and dark. The governor declared an emergency, freeing up funds for cleanup. Roads were closed, and homes were devastated. Many homes, however, lack flood insurance. This was a massive surprise for a city that sees few rainy days.