Tulsa Fire Department Uses Drones and Boats to Rescue Livestock in New Mexico
Crews recovered 78 goats and a donkey, while local farmers report severe damage to adobe homes and irrigation systems.
By Samuel Hayes ·
Tulsa Fire Department crews deployed drones and boats to remove 78 goats, a donkey, and stranded cattle from floodwaters in Socorro County, New Mexico. The rescue operations took place in the San Antonio area following heavy rains that damaged local infrastructure and farmland.
Lt. Logan McCormic of the Tulsa Fire Department identified the location of the trapped animals. He piloted a drone over flooded farmland approximately one and a half miles from his launch site on Thursday. The aerial survey allowed responders to locate seven head of cattle that were stranded on high ground.
The initial animal rescue effort occurred the day before the drone operation. McCormic stated that his team worked alongside the New Mexico National Guard to save the livestock. The crews utilized three boats to navigate the water and retrieve 79 goats from the San Antonio area.
Socorro County Emergency Manager Fred Berger confirmed that the flooding claimed some lives among the animals. He noted that multiple livestock died during the event, though the specific numbers for the losses were not detailed in his briefing to the public.
Residents gathered at Socorro City Hall on Thursday night for an informational meeting to discuss the impact of the weather. Jeff Jones, a farmer in the Luis Lopez community, attended the session to share the extent of the damage to his property.
Jones reported that his parents' adobe home sustained major structural issues after being submerged in about 30 inches of water. He remains uncertain if the historic material can be repaired. Additionally, his family lost his father during the flooding period, prompting his mother to move into a camp trailer for temporary housing.
The agricultural sector in the area faces long-term recovery challenges. Jones described the family's alfalfa farm as a total loss because floodwaters washed out the irrigation ditches and ruined the fields. He estimated that rebuilding the farming infrastructure will take years.
Source: KOB
