Region survives winter storm

No fatalities or even serious injuries were reported by Tuesday, but eastern New Mexico saw one of the worst storms in decades over Christmas weekend. That included 60 mph winds that built 6-to-8-foot snow drifts in front of multiple homes and businesses.

The storm called Goliath hit Saturday night and didn't let up until Monday, stranding dozens of motorists, leaving thousands without power and drawing attention from Gov. Susana Martinez, who declared a state of emergency and freed up $750,000 to help with rescue costs.

Numerous Clovis residents went Saturday night and all of Sunday without electricity or heat due to a power outage.

Most around the region had power again by Tuesday.

Businesses and public entities were mostly closed Monday, along with the roads, as crews tried to clean up.

Correspondent photo: Ronnie Cain

Road crews clear the snow on New Mexico 206 into piles on Monday morning.

Roosevelt County Sheriff Malin Parker said drivers still need to be careful or stay away from the following highways:

• Causey/Garrison Highway, New Mexico 458

• Floyd Highway, New Mexico 267

• Bethel Highway, New Mexico 236

• Rogers Highway, New Mexico 235

• New Mexico 258 and 262 through Milnesand

According to Portales Emergency Management Coordinator Keith Wattenbarger, 13 cars were stranded from the Chaves County line to U.S. 370 over the weekend, and many people took shelter in the community center in Elida. Shelters in Dora, Floyd and Milnesand also made themselves available in case drivers needed them, he said.

“They had about 40 people there the first day and well into the second day. We actually had a couple of state police officers who got stranded and helped out at the shelter,” said Wattenbarger.

According to Wattenbarger, a significant challenge for emergency responders was the lack of visibility, adding that two units were in accidents, and his vehicle was stuck in a ditch at one point.

“The temperature drop was something. It was hard for us to move people around just in town. We didn’t have as many people as we normally do, but the people that were out did a remarkable job,” Wattenbarger said.

Parker said several people spent the night in their vehicles on the side of the road, including one of his deputies, due to being stranded and crews not having the ability to reach them.

Parker said Tuesday afternoon that officials from his department had been going around the county to check on people in their homes, but they had not uncovered anything new, such as anyone in danger or any accidents.

Parker said there were no serious injuries or fatalities that he is aware of due to the storm.

“I commend the Roosevelt County Road Department,” Parker said. “They used their equipment to perform multiple rescues, because we couldn’t get to them.”

The National Weather Service of Albuquerque reported the following precipitation totals:

• Pleasant Hill: 12 inches

• Clovis: 8 to 10 inches

• Roosevelt County: 8 inches

• San Jon: 12 inches

• Tucumcari: 8 inches

Snow flurries began drifting down again Tuesday afternoon in Portales, but according to National Weather Service officials in Albuquerque, the flurries were to be mild and dissipate overnight.

Meteorologist Chuck Jones said the region would be dry today through Thursday with more snow showers Thursday night that will likely add 1 to 2 inches to the area’s snow piles.

The weather will be dry over the weekend, said Jones, with milder temperatures overall with 30 to 40 degree highs through Friday.

Jones said there will be another storm coming in early next week but it will be less severe than this past weekend’s storm.

— Staff Writer Eamon Scarbrough contributed to this report