Remnants of Hurricane Polo Cause Widespread Flooding and Evacuations Across New Mexico
The remnants of Hurricane Polo have brought widespread rain and flooding across New Mexico, leading to emergencies, evacuations, and significant infrastructure damage. Southern New Mexico, particularly the Rincon Valley, was severely impacted, with evacuations ordered for towns including Hatch, Rincon, Salem, and Garfield. Concerns have been raised about the potential collapse of the McLeod dam. Roswell Mayor Timothy Jennings expressed worries that rapid, heavy rainfall could overwhelm the city's drainage system if three inches fall quickly, as the city lacks the channel capacity to handle such volumes. Other areas, including Northwest Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and parts of the Four Corners region, have also experienced road closures, pooling, and infrastructure damage, such as a collapsed road in San Juan County and a growing hole along a dirt road in Rio Rancho. The New Mexico National Guard has been deployed to assist with flood preparations.
