Flash flooding across burn scars in and around Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs on Tuesday sent what local officials describe as a 20-foot wall of water through the small mountain communities. Three persons, including two children, were confirmed dead.
Locals filmed the rising waters as people and animals alike quickly sought higher and safer ground.
Rising waters
Residents watched as storm waters carried trees across roadways, cutting residents off from neighbors.
Christopher Lopez recorded this at the Ruidoso River Resort on Tuesday afternoon.
Facebook-based The Real Players Inside the Backstretch shared this dramatic video from the Ruidoso Downs track of a horse escaping the rising waters.
The morning after
Austin Miller recorded the aftermath on Wednesday morning. Flood waters had forced cars under homes and wiped away entire communities.
Jesus Figueroa shared this video of an elk seemingly confused at the transformed landscape.