• New Mexico flood response

Image: The Salvation Army, Southwest Division, Emergency Disaster Services Facebook page.

The Salvation Army’s Southwest Division in the United States has been assisting with disaster relief efforts following devastating flooding in New Mexico.

The flash floods killed three people and damaged at least 200 homes last week when the Rio Ruidoso was overwhelmed by heavy rains, which fell on a burn scar from extensive wildfires last year.

The Salvation Army has been present in the village of Ruidoso, providing assistance with donation management and coordinating donations of hygiene items, towels, non-perishable food and drinks and clothing.

The floods hit the area on 8 July, just days after catastrophic flooding in the neighbouring state of Texas killed more than 120 people, including children and staff at a Christian camp centre.

“Flooding across our nation has been devastating,” The Salvation Army’s Southwest Division Emergency Disaster Services wrote on its Facebook page. “Now neighbors in Ruidoso, New Mexico who lost so much in the fires that scarred their community are left in the wake of catastrophic flooding. They need us.

“Let’s keep our New Mexico and Texas neighbors in our prayers. May God bless and protect them and all who show up to care in times of emergency!”