By Joanna Putman
Police1
ROSWELL, N.M. — Severe flooding in Roswell, New Mexico, forced Chaves County Sheriff Mike Herrington to seek refuge on top of his police vehicle after it became completely surrounded by water, CBS News reported.
In a video posted on Facebook, Herrington showed himself surrounded by floodwaters, explaining that his truck and other vehicles had been caught as the water rose to the windows.
“I came into this not expecting that much water and before I know it, I was swept off,” Herrington said in the video.
A couple of residents who were wading through the water sat with the sheriff as they waited for the water to go down, Herrington said.
The New Mexico National Guard continued search and rescue efforts on Oct. 20 after record rainfall triggered flash floods across Roswell and Chaves County, according to the report. Guard officials reported that 309 people had been rescued since the flooding began on Oct. 19, with 38 taken to hospitals. The National Guard said it deployed 57 personnel and several tactical vehicles capable of operating in four feet of water to assist in the ongoing rescue operations.
New Mexico State Police confirmed two fatalities due to the flooding, though details about the victims and the circumstances of their deaths were not immediately released, according to the report.
The flooding was triggered by 5.78 inches of rain in Roswell, surpassing a record set in 1901. Residents described the speed of the flooding, with some neighborhoods and streets filling with water in a matter of minutes, according to the report. As efforts continue, Roswell Mayor Tim Jennings reported that the city had lost three fire trucks to the flooding.
