80 Animals and 3 People Rescued From New Mexico Floodwaters

Seventy-eight goats were among eighty flood-stranded animals rescued by New Mexico National Guard members and swiftwater specialists during an October 28 evacuation in Socorro County.

Ten New Mexico National Guard members worked alongside Oklahoma Task Force 3 in Socorro County, east of San Antonio, according to Organ Mountain News. The rescue operation ran from about 10 a.m. to roughly 1:50 p.m. following several weeks of unusually heavy rainfall in New Mexico.

Thick vegetation along the flooded Rio Grande made the rescue more difficult, preventing crews from moving the herd together. Each of the 78 goats had to be caught and carried one by one onto a boat.

In addition to the goats, responders safely brought out a single mule, a dog, and three people who were assisting the trapped livestock prior to their own evacuation. The Oklahoma specialists worked alongside personnel from both the Army and Air National Guard during the operation.

As part of the wider flood management efforts in Socorro County, people living in the San Francisco, Escondida, and Pueblito neighborhoods likewise required help and evacuation services. Photographs shared by the New Mexico National Guard on Facebook showed personnel standing in deep, muddy water beside a military vehicle.

“I really appreciate the commitment, patience, and sheer muscle it takes to handle that many skeptical goats,” one person said in the comments on the post. The Guard affectionately gave the rescued goats the name “Bleat Brigade.”

Personnel specializing in engineering, medicine, maintenance, and military police all played a role in the San Antonio mission as the National Guard supported local emergency responders and agencies throughout New Mexico.

Participating units on the Army National Guard side included the 642nd Support Maintenance Company, 920th Engineer Construction Company, 919th Military Police Company, New Mexico Medical Detachment, and 1209th Medical Company Area Support. The Air National Guard was represented by the 150th Maintenance Squadron and 150th Medical Group.

“Disaster response always brings the unexpected, and today’s mission in San Antonio was no exception. "Because our Soldiers, Airmen, and Oklahoma swiftwater rescue partners worked together, three New Mexicans and 80 animals are safe tonight," said Maj. Gen. Miguel Aguilar, New Mexico’s adjutant general, emphasizing the importance of that coordination, per Organ Mountain News.”

Getting people and animals to safety takes hours of teamwork in similar emergency efforts. New Mexico rafting guides turned their shop into a shelter for pets rescued from flooded homes, a 24-hour trip moved 22 shelter dogs out of Hurricane Isaias’ path in Florida, and an officer and fisherman rescued a stray dog struggling in a river in Maryland.