ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The remnants of Hurricane Polo brought emergencies, evacuations, and flooding across New Mexico on Tuesday after days of widespread rain.
The Rincon Valley in southern New Mexico
Southern New Mexico in the Rincon Valley, also known as the Hatch Valley, was hit particularly hard on Tuesday.
Evacuations were ordered for several towns, including Hatch, Rincon, Salem and Garfield.
Concerns remain that the McLeod dam could collapse.
Hatch Valley Public Schools is canceling classes for Wednesday.
Northwest Albuquerque
An intersection in Ventana Ranch was temporarily closed due to rain and flooding Tuesday.
Paseo del Norte Blvd NW and Universe Blvd NW were temporarily closed around 3:30 p.m. after a stretch got flooded out. Police Service Aides had the area blocked off. It reopened before 4:00 p.m. Tuesday.
KOB 4 Chief Meteorologist Eddie Garcia said some parts of the Metro have seen two inches of rain or more in just 24 hours.
Rio Rancho
A large hole opened along a dirt road near Huron Road in Rio Rancho and a homeowner said it kept growing, narrowing the road and exposing pipes.
The homeowner said she first noticed the hole around 10 a.m. and said it had grown since then.
The homeowner said she has lived there for five years. She said the city has tried to maintain the road with sand and gravel, sometimes as often as once a week, but she questioned whether that is enough.
She said she also asked the city about paving the road, but the city said it would be too expensive.
The city told KOB 4 crews are assessing and making repairs in the order of severity and public resources.
Roswell
Roswell Mayor Timothy Jennings said fast, heavy rain could overwhelm the city’s drainage system if 3 inches fall in a short time.
Jennings told KOB 4 his main concern is rain rate, not just total rainfall, as crews watch for more storms in the Roswell area.
“If we get three inches and it’s quick, that gives us a problem, because we don’t have the channel capacity to keep that much water, let that much water through Roswell,” Jennings said.
People in the area prepared for rain last week as storms moved through. The city and county also distributed thousands of sandbags.
The Four Corners
Light rain caused pooling on roads near downtown Gallup, and San Juan County said County Road 7900 near U.S. 550 collapsed before crews reopened it.
Though county officials reopened the road, but the fix is not permanent.
The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority reported some water outages in its coverage areas and said crews are working to restore service.
Las Vegas and northern New Mexico
In Las Vegas, city and county crews said they have spent more than a year clearing waterways and handing out sandbags as a flood watch hangs over the area.
If flooding happens, the city said it will open the recreation center as a shelter. Swift water rescue teams are also ready to respond, and officials said people who need help should call 911.
In Mora County, at least four roads are closed due to flooding.
- State Highway 94
- Monte Aplanado Road
- Sleepy Hollow Road
- County Road 1
