New Mexico Dam Evacuations
New Mexico Orders Immediate Evacuations in Hatch Valley Amid Dam Failure Threat
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Authorities issued a flash-flood emergency in New Mexico’s Hatch Valley after operators warned McLeod Dam could imminently fail, ordering residents of Salem, Garfield and Rincon to evacuate and urging nearby communities to move to higher ground. Officials warned a breach and intense runoff could inundate low-lying areas, roads and irrigation channels; shelters were opened for evacuees, and schools arranged closures or student transfers. The danger was fueled by heavy rain and saturated ground as moisture from the remnants of Hurricane Polo moved into the Southwest, with additional downpours forecast. Flood watches and potential heavy rain also extended across parts of the Southwest and central United States.
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Officials directed evacuees to use Interstate 25 and opened two reception sites: the Radium Springs Community Resource Center and the Doña Ana Community Resource Center. The Red Cross sent staff to the Radium Springs site to provide aid, food and lodging.
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Garfield Elementary students were bused to Hatch Valley High School so parents could reunite with them; Hatch was placed on “READY” status, with residents advised to prepare go-bags.
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The Rio Grande gauge at Hayner’s Bridge near Rincon measured 10.8 feet and 6,250 cubic feet per second; officials expected downstream flooding in areas without levee protection and warned of impacts along Highway 185.
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National Weather Service meteorologist Carter Greulich said the unusually wet September had saturated the ground: “Runoff is likely going to start much quicker and lead to those flooding impacts quicker.”
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The flooding threat was expected to spread later in the week, with heavy rain possible from Texas to Minnesota; forecasters estimated nearly 80 trillion gallons of water could fall across the United States.
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