() As recovery efforts continue after deadly floods in central Texas last week, neighboring New Mexico is facing flooding of its own.
At least three people two children and one adult were killed Tuesday night, and dozens were rescued after New Mexico’s Rio Ruidoso rose a record-breaking 20 feet in about 30 minutes Tuesday, local affiliate KRQE reported.
“We started the morning with a flash flood watch from the National Weather Service, so we knew there was something probably on the horizon,” said Kerry Gladden, the village of Ruidoso’s public information officer.
As New Mexico and Texas handle these historic floods, Gladden told KRQE she hopes everyone takes weather alerts seriously moving forward.
More than 170 missing in Texas flooding as death toll climbs
At least 111 people have been confirmed dead, and 172 are still missing in central Texas following Fourth of July floods spurred on by massive rainfall, according to Nexstar affiliate KXAN.
“We are not leaving until this job is finished,” said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. “The primary job right now is locating everybody who was affected by this flood.”
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First responders carry out search and rescue operations near the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area, Monday, July 7, 2025, in Ingram, Texas. (AP Photo/Eli Hartman) -
People help during clean-up efforts at Guadalupe Keys Resort, an RV park in Center Point, Texas, after flooding, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) -
People survey the damage at Guadalupe Keys Resort, an RV park in Center Point, Texas, after flooding, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) -
Crews work to clear debris from the Cade Loop bridge along the Guadalupe River on July 5, 2025, in Ingram, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez) -
A flood gauge marks the height of water flowing over a farm-to-market road near Kerrville, Texas, on Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Abbot confirmed Tuesday that 161 people are missing in Kerr County alone, including five children and one counselor from Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp.
Searchers last made a live rescue on Friday, the same day early-morning floods inundated the state’s Hill Country, according to a Kerrville Police Department official.
Camp Mystic’s disaster plan approved 2 days before Texas flooding
The Department of State Health Services released records Tuesday showing the camp complied with a host of state regulations regarding “procedures to be implemented in case of a disaster” as recently as July 2.
The regulations included instructing campers on what to do in the event of an evacuation and assigning specific duties to each staff member and counselor.
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Campers’ belongings sit outside one of Camp Mystic’s cabins near the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area July 7, 2025, in Hunt, Texas. (AP Photo/Eli Hartman) -
Officials search on the grounds of Camp Mystic along the banks of the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area July 6, 2025, in Hunt, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) -
A Camp Mystic mailbox is seen near the entrance to the establishment along the banks of the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area July 5, 2025, in Hunt, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) -
A plush toy sits on the ground outside of a cabin at Camp Mystic, the site of where at least 20 girls went missing after flash flooding in Hunt, Texas, on July 5, 2025. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / GETTY-AFP) -
Rescuers were on Saturday searching for more than 20 girls missing from Camp Mystic in Texas after torrential rains caused devastating flooding that killed at least 27 people with more rain on the way. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / GETTY-AFP)
The Texas Department of State Health Services told KXAN it does not maintain copies of those plans, but camps are required to post plans clearly in every building.
“DSHS reviews the camp’s emergency plans onsite during their annual inspection for the correct elements listed in the Texas Administrative Code,” the DSHS spokesperson added.
gets inside look at National Weather Service
In the aftermath of the floods in central Texas, many eyes have turned to the National Weather Service and its protocols for weather warnings.
The NWS, which has 122 offices across the country, has said it issued timely alerts in advance of the deadly floods on July 3 and accelerated them around 1 a.m. on July 4. It acknowledged forecasts are only one facet of a response and that local law enforcement must be able to interpret those warnings, communicate them to the public and help communities prepare for safety.
“Once we get to the warning stage, that can be anywhere from a few minutes to maybe an hour or so depending on how the storm is evolving, how likely the threat is and how significant it might be,” said Mike Bardou, NWS warning coordinator meteorologist and senior forecaster.
Experts said that a flood warning system was deemed too costly by Kerr County. Local officials acknowledged that installing a flood warning system in 2017 was not feasible, as the county lost out on a bid to secure a $1 million grant to fund the project.
‘s Rob Taub, Alex Caprariello and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
