The Great Flood

So, we made CNN, ABC, etc.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25887544/
If you have a chance to look at some of the video, you will see how extensive the damage was from the flood. We are just high enough that our back yard and front culvert were very wet, but only the 7 inches of water in the rain gauge would have given away what had happened.
The picture above is of the Chamber of Commerce. It may be hard to see, but in the background and across the river was a park. The water at that point came down the upper canyon and tore through. At this point, the Chamber building has been declared a loss.
http://www.younewstv.com/areas/kob/25975304.html#ynext
This is a picture of Ruidoso Downs. They lost the jockey quarters and the track eventually was totally flooded. They said they would reopen this weekend, but that is highly doubtful.
The numbers are staggering, as we had 70 percent of the roads closed and now, 7 of 9 bridges covered.
The river this guy is kayaking down is normally a trickle. There may be a foot of water down Cedar Creek most days, and yet this is what you can do now. This is the least swollen of the rivers/creeks in town. At one mobile home park, that is now completely submerged, a guy was handing out $100 bills because he did not know what else to do to help the people who lost everything.
This is the new foot bridge over the river. Next to this used to be the new bridge over the river in midtown. Both are now, obviously, complete losses. The river at this point stretches over 100 foot across, normally 5-10 feet across.
http://www.mynewmexico.tv/photos-view.php?ID=2026212
Check out that website for some more amazing photos and some comments by those still stuck up in Upper Canyon without any roads to leave on.
Here, in Alto, thankfully, all is well. We count our blessings.