On Friday night, officials in San Miguel County, New Mexico issued a mandatory evacuation for anyone living south of Mile Marker 4 on NM Highway 65 down to Hot Springs Avenue in Las Vegas. The evacuation was prompted by high water levels at the Gallinas River, which had caused several people to evacuate. Parts of the Gallinas River Park and bridge remain closed off, with the possibility of more rain on Saturday and Sunday.
KOB 4 crews arrived in town on Saturday and observed that while the water levels had decreased since Friday night, they were still gushing. The owner of Waldero’s Wich’s, Paul Segura, stated that he had to evacuate his restaurant before fully shutting it down due to the high water levels. Segura mentioned that the water was close to overtaking the bridge and reaching his land, which caused concerns about the impact on his restaurant’s basement and structural integrity.
Despite these challenges, Segura expressed that both his restaurant and home were safe. However, he faced difficulties in returning home due to road closures by firefighters. City and county officials faced difficulties in getting residents to obey evacuation orders, with reports of people moving caution tape and road closed signs against official guidance. The officials reminded residents that even small amounts of water can be dangerous during flooding and urged them to “Turn around, don’t drown.”
