Doña Ana County officials ordered residents of Rincon, Salem and Garfield to evacuate immediately as heavy rains triggered dangerous flash flooding across the Hatch Valley. Authorities warned of potential failure at McLeod Dam and urged people to seek higher ground without delay while taking essential items and pets. The National Weather Service described the situation as particularly dangerous and advised avoiding all flooded roads. Video from the area near Hatch showed vehicles struggling through deep, fast-moving muddy water as runoff overwhelmed low-lying routes. County alerts directed residents toward Interstate 25 and designated shelters for those needing temporary housing. The orders came after intense thunderstorms dumped significant rainfall and caused arroyos to swell rapidly. Officials stressed that conditions could worsen quickly and that waiting was not an option.

Later updates on September 29 lifted the evacuation notices for Salem, Garfield, Hatch and Placitas after crews mitigated a small piping failure at the dam and confirmed no major breach had occurred. Rincon remained under the order overnight because of persistent standing floodwaters and a separate breached arroyo levee that continued to pose risks. Emergency managers continued monitoring water levels and road conditions while the American Red Cross supported shelter operations. Residents returning to cleared areas were cautioned about debris, damaged pavement and residual hazards. The episode highlighted the vulnerability of agricultural communities along the Rio Grande to sudden intense storms. County teams kept working through the night to assess remaining threats and determine when Rincon residents could safely go home.