Rincon remained evacuated, with county officials warning residents not to return because of standing floodwater.
By Levi Gwaltney for Las Cruces Digest
Sources: Doña Ana County, Doña Ana County Public Safety (via Facebook)
Images/Photos: Courtesy
Cover Photo: Radium Springs Community Center (Courtesy Doña Ana County)
Las Cruces Digest does not yet know how many people evacuated their homes Tuesday night, how many required rescue, or the extent of damage to homes, roads and other property across the Hatch Valley. Those assessments will come as conditions allow.
For now, this remains an ongoing emergency. Las Cruces Digest is not attempting to assess damage from within affected areas while residents and emergency crews are still responding to flooding. People in and around the affected communities should continue relying on Doña Ana County for current evacuation and shelter information and NMRoads for current highway conditions.
As of late Tuesday night, evacuation orders had been lifted for Salem, Garfield, Hatch and Placitas. Rincon remained evacuated, with county officials warning residents not to return because of standing floodwater.
What follows is how the emergency unfolded Tuesday afternoon and evening, based on announcements from Doña Ana County and Doña Ana County Public Safety.
About 3:30 p.m. — Salem and Garfield Told to Evacuate
The first evacuation notice appeared Tuesday afternoon, when Doña Ana County recommended residents of Salem and Garfield leave before conditions worsened.
The notice identified the Radium Springs Community Resource Center as an available shelter and said the American Red Cross would provide support.
Residents were told to take medications, identification, important documents and supplies for children and pets.
Around the same period, Doña Ana County announced its administrative offices would close at 4 p.m. because of worsening weather conditions. Emergency services continued operating.
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About 5 p.m. — Rincon Added to Evacuation Area
The response escalated when Doña Ana County announced what it called an evacuation order for Rincon, Salem and Garfield.
Public Safety told residents to “EVACUATE NOW and SEEK HIGHER GROUND.”
The county’s corresponding announcement said residents were strongly encouraged to leave before conditions worsened and recommended Interstate 25 as an evacuation route.
Two shelters were identified: the Radium Springs Community Resource Center and Doña Ana Community Resource Center.
About 6 p.m. — Hatch Moves to READY
Attention then turned to Hatch. Doña Ana County placed Hatch in the READY stage of its Ready, Set, Go evacuation system.
Residents were not yet being told to leave. Instead, they were advised to assemble GO bags, gather medications and important documents, fuel their vehicles, determine where they would go and monitor official information.
Under the county’s system, READY means prepare; SET means be prepared to leave immediately; and GO means evacuate immediately.
At the time, Rincon, Salem and Garfield were already in GO. The county warned that movement between the stages could happen quickly.
About 7 p.m. — Hatch Goes from READY to GO
About an hour later, it did. Doña Ana County moved Hatch into GO and issued an unmistakable instruction:
“LEAVE NOW.”
Residents were told to move away from low-lying areas and never attempt to drive through flooded roads.
A subsequent announcement told people near Rincon, Salem, Hatch and Garfield to evacuate immediately. County officials again directed residents toward the shelters at Radium Springs and Doña Ana.
About 7 p.m. — Border Patrol Role Clarified
As multiple agencies became involved in evacuations and rescues, Doña Ana County issued another message specifically addressing the presence of U.S. Border Patrol agents.
The county said agents were helping people at shelters and evacuation sites and were not conducting immigration enforcement at that time.
About 8 p.m. — Placitas Goes to GO
The evacuation area expanded again when Doña Ana County moved Placitas into GO. Residents were told to leave immediately and move away from low-lying areas.
Salem, Garfield, Hatch and Rincon remained under evacuation instructions, bringing the number of affected communities to five.
About 8:30 p.m. — Flooding Closes State Highways
As evacuations continued, Public Safety released video showing flooded roads and warned drivers not to attempt to cross standing water.
The county then announced closures on three state highways.
- NM 185 was closed in both directions between Fort Selden and Angostura because of standing water.
- NM 140 was closed in both directions from approximately one mile south of Rincon to Rincon because of standing water.
- NM 187 was closed between approximately one mile north of Salem and south of Garfield. The roadway was described as impassable.
Officials repeatedly warned motorists not to drive through flooded or barricaded roads.
10:20 p.m. — Four Evacuation Orders Lifted; Rincon Remains
Conditions improved later Tuesday evening, allowing Doña Ana County to lift evacuation orders for Salem, Garfield, Hatch and Placitas.
Residents in those communities were told they could return home but were warned that flooding, debris, damaged roads and other hazards could remain.
Rincon remained under evacuation instructions.
County officials said standing floodwater continued to make conditions there unsafe and told evacuated residents not to return until officials determine it is safe.
The Radium Springs Community Resource Center remained open.
Conditions Can Still Change
Residents should continue monitoring Doña Ana County and Doña Ana County Public Safety for evacuation, shelter and emergency-response information.
Current state highway closures and road conditions are available through NMRoads.
Flooded roads should not be crossed even if water appears shallow. Conditions and closures may change as crews assess roads and floodwaters recede.
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