Flash flooding impacts homes in Vado

At least 15 people were transported by emergency crews in Vado in the early hours of Wednesday after flooding impacted the area on Tuesday, July 22.

Search and rescue operations began in Vado around 12 a.m. Wednesday and the 15 who were rescued were transported to the Vado Community Center, 180 La Fe Avenue. The center served as an emergency evacuation shelter. Overall, about 30 people visited the center during the flooding, according to Doña Ana County. The search and rescue operation concluded at about 3 a.m. Wednesday, July 23.

Approximately 110 homes were affected by the flash flooding and 600 homes lost power, according to the Doña Ana County. Crews were working to restore power as of Wednesday morning. Vado residents are encouraged to report outages directly to their utility provider.

Interstate 10 frontage roads and other roadways were closed due to high water. Crews began working to clear the roads on Wednesday.

Doña Ana County Emergency Operations Center also began damage assessments on Wednesday.

"We want to make sure that our community members are safe, informed and connected to the resources they need as we move from emergency response into recovery," Emergency Manager Amanda Bowen said. "We are committed to supporting residents in every step of the way as recovery efforts move forward." 

Avoid flooded areas. Residents experiencing non-life-threatening issues can call the non-emergency dispatch at 575-526-0795. Damage reports can be submitted using a damage assessment tool at https://arcg.is/1zu4nj1.

The county has established a dedicated call center to answer questions and connect Vado residents to resources. The call center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be reached by dialing 2-1-1.