FAQ

RuidosoReady: The Village of Ruidoso's official preparedness website offers information on wildfire and flood preparedness, emergency planning, evacuation guidance, emergency supply checklists, pet safety, emergency alerts, and recovery resources to help residents, businesses, and visitors prepare before disasters occur. Visit https://www.ruidosoready.com/Ready.gov: Ready.gov is the U.S. government's official emergency preparedness website, offering practical guidance on creating emergency plans, building disaster supply kits, preparing for natural hazards, and protecting your family, pets, home, and business before emergencies occur. Visit https://www.ready.gov/

Wildfires are a year-round risk in Lincoln County. Taking steps to prepare your home, property, family, and evacuation plans before a wildfire occurs can help protect lives and reduce property damage. Explore these trusted resources for wildfire preparedness information and safety tips.RuidosoReady Wildfire: Access local wildfire preparedness resources, including evacuation planning, defensible space recommendations, home hardening tips, emergency alerts, and guidance to help protect your family, home, and property before wildfire season. Visit https://www.ruidosoready.com/wildfireLincoln National Forest: Find information on wildfire prevention, fire restrictions, prescribed burns, forest conditions, recreation safety, and other resources to help you safely enjoy and protect public lands. Visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/lincoln

RuidosoReady Burn Scar Flooding: Learn about the increased risk of flooding following wildfires, including how burn scars affect runoff, understanding flood hazards, preparing your property, recognizing warning signs, and staying safe during flash flood events.https://www.ruidosoready.com/burn-scar-flooding

Pet PreparednessOur pets depend on us during emergencies. Planning ahead can help ensure their safety and reduce stress during evacuations, wildfires, floods, and other disasters. Use the resources below to create a pet emergency plan, assemble a pet disaster kit, and learn how to protect your animals before, during, and after an emergency.Ready.gov – Pets & Animals: Learn how to prepare your pets for disasters by creating an evacuation plan, assembling a pet emergency kit, and planning for shelter and transportation. Visit https://www.ready.gov/petsAmerican Red Cross – Pet Disaster Preparedness: Tips for preparing pets before disasters, locating pet-friendly shelters, and caring for animals during emergencies. Visit https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/pet-disaster-preparedness.htmlHumane Society of the United States – Disaster Preparedness: Guidance on protecting pets, horses, and other animals before, during, and after disasters, including evacuation planning and emergency supplies. Visit https://www.americanhumane.org/public-education/pet-disaster-preparedness/Livestock PlanningWildfires, flooding, severe weather, and other emergencies can develop quickly, leaving little time to move livestock and large animals. Preparing in advance with an evacuation plan, transportation options, emergency supplies, and proper identification can help protect your animals and improve their safety during a disaster. Explore the resources below to help you prepare before an emergency occurs.Animal Protection New Mexico – Disaster Preparedness for Large Animals & Livestock: Learn how to prepare horses, cattle, and other livestock for wildfires, floods, and other emergencies. This resource includes evacuation planning, emergency supply checklists, transportation tips, sheltering guidance, and recovery information to help keep large animals safe before, during, and after a disaster. Visit https://apnm.org/what-we-do/building-foundations-to-keep-animals-safe/disaster-preparedness/disaster-preparedness-for-large-animals-livestock/New Mexico Livestock Board: For urgent livestock needs or emergencies in New Mexico, contact the New Mexico Livestock Board (NMLB) directly at their main office at (505) 841-6161. For general agricultural emergencies, you can also reach out to their Agricultural Tip Line at (800) 525-2782 or (575) 646-9191 WildlifeWildlife behavior often changes following wildfires, flooding, and other disasters. If you encounter injured or displaced wildlife, contact the appropriate wildlife agency rather than attempting to handle the animal yourself.New Mexico Department of Game & Fish: The New Mexico Department of Game & Fish provides information on wildlife safety, injured or orphaned wildlife, hunting and fishing regulations, and wildlife conservation. During and after disasters, the department offers guidance on responding to wildlife encounters and reporting injured or displaced wild animals. Visit https://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/Phone (888) 248-6866 (toll-free), or (505) 476-8000Lincoln National Forest: The Lincoln National Forest provides information on wildlife habitat, forest conditions, recreation safety, fire restrictions, and area closures. During and after wildfires, floods, and other emergencies, visitors can find updates on trail and campground closures, wildlife safety, and access to public lands. Visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/lincoln

Emergency alerts provide timely notifications about evacuations, severe weather, road closures, public safety incidents, and other critical events. Register with the official alert systems below to receive important information before, during, and after an emergency.CallMeRuidoso: The Village of Ruidoso's emergency notification system sends important alerts regarding evacuations, severe weather, road closures, and other public safety information. https://www.callmeruidoso.com/Ruidoso Downs AlertSense: Sign up to receive official emergency notifications from the City of Ruidoso Downs by phone, text message, or email. AlertSense provides timely information about severe weather, evacuations, road closures, public safety incidents, and other emergencies affecting the Ruidoso Downs area. https://public.alertsense.com/SignUp/publicUser.aspx?RegionId=1875Lincoln County Emergency Notification System: Register for Lincoln County's official emergency notification system to receive location-based alerts about evacuations, severe weather, wildfires, flooding, road closures, and other public safety emergencies. You can also view active emergency zones, evacuation statuses, and incident maps. https://lincolnnm.genasys.com/portal/enhttps://lincolnnm.genasys.com/portal/enWatchDuty App: Download the WatchDuty app to receive alerts you of nearby wildfires and firefighting efforts in real-time. https://app.watchduty.org/Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA): Most mobile phones automatically receive life-threatening emergency alerts. Verify that emergency alerts are enabled in your phone's notification settings.

When an emergency occurs, rely on these official local government sources for evacuation notices, public safety announcements, recovery information, and other critical updates.Village of RuidosoVillage of Ruidoso Emergency Sirens: If you hear the emergency sirens in the Village of Ruidoso, tune in immediately to FM 99.1, AM 1490, or www.1490krui.com for official instructions and real-time updates from local authorities.Village of Ruidoso Emergency Information: The Village's official emergency information page provides the latest updates on active incidents, evacuation notices, emergency declarations, road closures, public safety information, disaster recovery efforts, and other important community announcements. https://www.ruidoso-nm.gov/emergency-informationCallMeRuidoso Emergency Alerts: Register to receive official emergency notifications from the Village of Ruidoso by phone, text message, or email. Alerts may include evacuation notices, severe weather warnings, road closures, public safety emergencies, and other time-sensitive information to help you stay informed before, during, and after an emergency. https://www.callmeruidoso.com/Village of Ruidoso Facebook Page: Follow the Village's official Facebook page for timely updates on emergencies, road closures, public safety information, community announcements, Village services, and disaster recovery efforts. During active incidents, it is often one of the first places official updates are posted. https://www.facebook.com/VillageofRuidoso/Ruidoso Fire Department Facebook Page: Follow the Ruidoso Fire Department's official Facebook page for active incident updates, wildfire information, emergency response activities, fire safety tips, community advisories, and other important public safety announcements. https://www.facebook.com/RuidosoFireDepartment/Ruidoso Police Department Facebook Page: Follow the Ruidoso Police Department's official Facebook page for public safety announcements, emergency notifications, road closures, evacuation updates, traffic advisories, crime prevention information, and other important community alerts. During emergencies, the department provides timely updates to help keep residents and visitors informed. https://www.facebook.com/RuidosoPoliceDepartment/Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce Facebook Page: Follow the Chamber's Facebook page for community updates, business resources, event announcements, recovery information, and opportunities to support local businesses. During emergencies and disasters, the Chamber also shares official information from local, state, and federal agencies that may impact residents, businesses, and visitors. https://www.facebook.com/RuidosoValleyChamberofCommerceLincoln CountyLincoln County Fire & Emergency Services:   Local alerts, evacuation notices, and preparedness guidance specific to Lincoln County.  https://www.lincolncountynm.gov/departments/emergency_management.phpLincoln County Sheriff's Office: The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services throughout Lincoln County and shares important public safety information, evacuation notices, road closures, missing persons alerts, and emergency updates during disasters and other incidents affecting the county. https://www.lincolncountynm.gov/departments/sheriff_s_office/index.phpLincoln County Sheriff's Office Facebook Page: Follow the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office's official Facebook page for timely public safety announcements, emergency notifications, evacuation information, road closure updates, missing persons alerts, law enforcement activity, and other important information affecting communities throughout Lincoln County. https://www.facebook.com/LincolnCountySheriffNM/City of Ruidoso DownsVillage of Ruidoso Downs Fire & Flood Recovery: Official source for emergency notifications, public notices, and municipal updates for Ruidoso Downs residents and visitors. https://www.ruidosodowns.us/community/fire___flood_recovery.phpRuidoso Downs AlertSense: Sign up to receive official emergency notifications from the City of Ruidoso Downs by phone, text message, or email. AlertSense provides timely information about severe weather, evacuations, road closures, public safety incidents, and other emergencies affecting the Ruidoso Downs area. https://public.alertsense.com/SignUp/publicUser.aspx?RegionId=1875City of Ruidoso Downs Facebook Page: Follow the City's official Facebook page for emergency updates, road closures, community announcements, event information, and other important notices. During emergencies, the City shares timely updates from local, state, and federal agencies. https://www.facebook.com/cityofruidosodowns

NMRoads: Check real-time road conditions, closures, and travel alerts across New Mexico. Visit https://www.nmroads.com/default.html?v=2025012001&

National Weather Service (NWS) Albuquerque: Real‑time fire weather forecasts, red‑flag warnings, and local alerts for New Mexico. https://www.weather.gov/abq/NOAA Weather Radio: A dedicated source for continuous weather and emergency broadcasts—find a receiver near you. https://www.weather.gov/nwr/162.550 MHz (WXJ‑38, Ruidoso) – The main transmitter serving all of Lincoln County with local forecasts, watches, warnings, and emergency alerts 162.450 MHz (WWG‑36, Roswell) – Secondary coverage into southeastern portions of Lincoln County; a good backup if you’re in the county’s lower elevations 162.400 MHz (WXJ‑34, Albuquerque) – Extended/redundant coverage from the Albuquerque WFO; useful in the northern reaches of the county To make sure you catch every alert, set your SAME‑capable receiver to the Lincoln County SAME code (035057) and/or scan these frequencies so you’ll be notified immediately of any watches, warnings, or emergency messages.

Keep these important emergency contacts readily available. In a life-threatening emergency, always call 911. For non-emergency assistance, contact the appropriate agency listed below.Emergency (Police, Fire, Medical): 911Ruidoso Police Department (Non-Emergency): For non-emergency law enforcement assistance within the Village of Ruidoso. Phone: (575) 258-7365Lincoln County Sheriff's Office (Non-Emergency): For non-emergency law enforcement assistance in unincorporated Lincoln County and areas outside municipal police jurisdictions. Phone: (575) 648-2341Ruidoso Fire Department: Questions regarding fire prevention, burn permits, fire safety, and non-emergency fire department services. Phone: (575) 257-3473Lincoln County Medical Center: Emergency medical care and hospital services. Phone: (575) 257-8200PNM: Report power outages or downed power lines. Emergency Outage: 1-888-DIAL-PNM (1-888-342-5766)Report Outage: https://www.pnm.com/report-an-outageOtero County Electric Cooperative: Report power outages, downed power lines, or electrical emergencies affecting OCEC customers in Lincoln County. Stay away from downed lines and report them immediately. Outage/Emergency: (800) 548-4660. https://www.ocec-inc.com/Outage Map: https://otero.outagemap.coop/#/Zia Natural Gas Company: Report suspected natural gas leaks, service interruptions, or other gas-related emergencies immediately. If you smell natural gas, leave the area immediately, avoid using electrical switches or open flames, and contact Zia Natural Gas from a safe location.Emergency Phone: (575) 622-0551 or 1-800-520-4277. Visit https://www.zngc.com/Lincoln National Forest: Information regarding forest closures, recreation areas, and wildfire restrictions. Phone: (575) 257-4095Village of Ruidoso: General municipal services and information. Phone: (575) 258-4343Village of Ruidoso Water Department: Contact the Village for water or wastewater emergencies, including water main breaks, service interruptions, sewer backups, or other utility issues affecting Village customers. Phone: (575) 258-4343

Recovering from a disaster often begins with financial assistance. These resources can help homeowners, renters, businesses, and nonprofit organizations explore available disaster aid, loans, grants, and other recovery programs.Community Foundation of Lincoln County: The CFLC Shelter Fund was created to lend financial assistance to local residents who've been displaced due to fire, flood, or other natural disasters. Visit www.CFOLC.org/grantsFEMA Disaster Assistance: Find information about federal disaster assistance, apply for eligible aid after a presidentially declared disaster, check your application status, and access recovery resources for homeowners, renters, and businesses. Visit https://www.disasterassistance.gov/U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Assistance: The SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses, and certain nonprofit organizations to help repair or replace property damaged by declared disasters. Learn about eligibility, available loan programs, and how to apply for assistance. Visit https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistanceInsurance Information Institute (Triple-I): Find guidance on filing insurance claims, documenting property damage, understanding your coverage, and navigating the insurance recovery process following a disaster. Visit https://www.iii.org/New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance: Learn about insurance consumer protections, file a complaint, verify insurance companies and agents, and access resources to help you navigate insurance claims after a disaster. Visit https://www.osi.state.nm.us/New Mexico Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (DHSEM): Find information about state disaster assistance programs, recovery resources, emergency management services, and updates on disaster declarations, mitigation efforts, and available recovery support for New Mexico communities. Visit https://www.dhsem.nm.gov/

Small Business AssistanceChamber ResourcesEconomic Recovery

Whether you're seeking temporary housing, rebuilding your home, or repairing storm or wildfire damage, these resources provide information on housing assistance, rebuilding programs, permits, and recovery guidance.RuidosoReady Rebuild: Access local rebuilding resources, including permitting information, contractor guidance, recovery programs, and recommendations to help homeowners and businesses rebuild safely and resiliently after a disaster. Visit https://www.ruidosoready.com/rebuild

Returning home safely after a disaster requires careful cleanup and awareness of potential hazards. These resources offer guidance on debris removal, mold prevention, flood cleanup, wildfire ash, and returning safely to damaged property.Village of Ruidoso Flood Recovery Resources: Find official information on flood recovery, cleanup and debris removal, permitting, rebuilding guidance, financial assistance, safety recommendations, and other resources to help residents and businesses recover following flood events. Visit https://www.ruidoso-nm.gov/flood-recovery-resourcesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Disaster Safety: Access trusted guidance on staying safe before, during, and after natural disasters, including flood cleanup, wildfire smoke, mold prevention, drinking water safety, extreme heat, severe weather, and other health and safety topics. Visit https://www.cdc.gov/natural-disasters/safety/index.html

Disasters affect more than property. These resources provide access to medical care, mental health support, crisis counseling, food assistance, and community services to help individuals and families recover.Disaster Distress Helpline800-985-5990Text "TalkWithUs" to 966746 to get help and support 24/7​988 Suicide and Crisis LifelineCall or text 988​National Maternal Mental Health HotlineText or call 833-TLC-MAMA (833-852-6262) anytime to talk with a trained counselor​Substance Abuse Treatment Facility LocatorCall 800-662-HELP (800-662-4357)​​Agora Crisis Center Based out of the University of New Mexico, is a place anyone can call when they need someone to listen. You don't have to be in crisis; you can call to talk about good things, bad things, stress, anger, or loneliness.Call (505) 277-3013 or 866-HELP-1-NM (866-435-7166)​​New Mexico Crisis and Access LineFor 24-hour crisis support, visit https://nmcrisisline.comCall to connect with a counselor 855-NM-CRISIS (855-662-7474)​Call or text to connect with a peer 855-466-7100Call: 7:00am – 11:30pm Text: 6pm – 11pm​211 Disaster Recovery: Connect with local disaster recovery resources, including housing assistance, food, financial assistance, mental health services, cleanup support, and other community programs available to help individuals and families recover after an emergency. Visit https://www.211.org/get-help/disaster-recoverySupport for ChildrenFEMA Helping Children Deal with Disaster ​Download Helping Children Cope with Disaster.​​National Association of School PsychologistsLarge-Scale Natural Disasters: Helping Children CopeHelping Children After a Wildfire: Tips for Caregivers and Teachers Support for Firefighters and First RespondersFirst Responder 24-Hour Crisis Hotline 1-888-731-3473 (FIRE) Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance Visit www.ffbha.org for resources specific to firefighter mental health. National Fallen Firefighter Foundation Visit www.firehero.org for support for families of fallen firefighters. Wildland Firefighter Foundation Visit www.wffoundation.org for assistance to families of firefighters killed or injured in the line of duty.

Community organizations often coordinate volunteer opportunities and donations following disasters. Check these trusted organizations to learn how you can request assistance, volunteer, or support local recovery efforts.Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce: The Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce shares information on community recovery efforts, local business resources, volunteer opportunities, and economic recovery initiatives. During and after disasters, the Chamber helps connect residents, visitors, and businesses with current local information and available assistance. Visit https://www.ruidosovalleychamber.com/Humane Society Resale ShopMonday-Saturday, 10am - 4pm25962 US-70, Ruidoso