Deadly Flash Floods in New Mexico Expose Failures in Disaster Preparedness and Infrastructure

The mountain village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, is grappling yet again with catastrophic flooding that claimed three lives—including two children—and devastated scores of homes. This tragic event, unfolding just a year after destructive wildfires and prior flooding ravaged the area, highlights a troubling pattern: local authorities and federal agencies have repeatedly failed to implement robust protections against these natural disasters. Why Are We Letting Mother Nature Have the Last Word? Ruidoso’s recent flash flood was no mere accident of weather; it was a foreseeable consequence aggravated by insufficient preparedness. An unprecedented surge—water levels rising more than 20 feet—overwhelmed the Rio...