Rio Rancho mayor urges donations for historic Ruidoso flash flood

RIO RANCHO — Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull took to social media Tuesday to spread awareness about the deadly flooding in southern New Mexico, urging people to donate to disaster relief while adding he reached out to his Ruidoso counterpart.

Hull wrote on his official mayoral Facebook page to keep Ruidoso “in your thoughts and prayers” following the July 8 flooding, which officials from Ruidoso stated left a male in his forties, a 7-year-old male and a 4-year-old female dead. The flooding was caused by downpours that fell on burn scars left by two wildfires that swept through the area last year, according to a Ruidoso news release.

In an interview, Hull, who has led Rio Rancho since 2014, noted the city has not experienced the kind of natural disaster Ruidoso has, but he believes the situation is one his fellow residents can recognize as a moment of unity.

“We do have an understanding that when something like this happens, we all have to come together to make sure that everybody in Ruidoso and the surrounding areas feel supported and they survive this,” said Hull, who noted he recently visited Ruidoso for a conference.

He added that as a leader who can relate to his community, “I can only imagine how Ruidoso is feeling as they continue to experience tragedy from flooding in burn scars.”

Hull called Mayor Lynn Crawford Tuesday to offer Rio Rancho’s resources, including first responders.

“He sounded very preoccupied,” Hull said of Crawford. “I was surprised and grateful that he actually answered my call.”

Crawford told the Observer he received Hull’s call a few hours after the flooding began. The Rio Rancho mayor offered prayers and support, including introductions to legislators who could get Ruidoso disaster relief funds, according to Crawford.

“It was a nice conversation of support,” said Crawford, who noted he has fielded calls from numerous mayors, including those in other states. “These (natural disasters) are things that bring New Mexicans together.”

Crawford told Hull that donations could be made the Community Foundation of Lincoln County. Hull said he intended to inform his residents about the foundation, according to Crawford.

When it comes to city resources, Hull told the Observer that even something as simple as a community call out can result in residents or businesses sending what they can. He said he had an Albuquerque-based restoration business reach out to him following his initial Facebook post.

Hull, a former business owner, said any help at all is “indicative of the New Mexico spirit.”

“We help each other,” Hull said.

Donations can be made by clicking on the link found on the homepage of the foundation’s website, cfolc.org/.