SANTA FE, N.M. - New Mexico Army National Guard aviators put their hoist training to the test not once, not twice, but 57 times on July 27 after Tropical Depression Dolly caused flooding in the high desert environment of Ruidoso, N.M.
By the end of the mission, the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crews had picked up more than 250 residents and vacationers. This feat set a state record for the number of victims rescued in just two days.
"[The Blackhawk] kind of looked like Noah's Ark in the back," said Staff Sgt. Ian Weiger.
When asked if there is a precedent for this magnitude of rescue, Capt. Daniel Purcell said, "There is no way in our aviation history in this state that we've saved or rescued that many people at once. Certainly a record as far as rescues go. We were just doing what we were trained to do."
The July 27 helicopter crew consisted of pilots, Purcell and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Charles Boehler, along with their flight crew, Weiger and Sgt. First Class Greg Holmes.
Hundreds of residents and vacationers were stranded due to the swift rise of the Rio Ruidoso which runs through Ruidoso located southeast of Albuquerque. The rushing river tore through 14 bridges, engulfed roadways and continued to create more rivers, all of which prevented people from escaping.
Crossing the river was impossible as even the trees cut down by rescue workers to act as bridges were unsafe to use. The high waters completely encircled one campground creating an island that was the only dry ground for the vacationers.
Before the campers had a chance to panic, the Blackhawks were hovering overhead and lowering a hoist and crew to help transport them to safety.
This mission was performed by using a jungle penetrator, which is a seat suspended from the helicopter by a sturdy cable. Crew members strapped in victims one at a time for the ride of their life from the ground up to the hovering aircraft. Crews were then able to lift them into the safety of the helicopter.
Some of the 57 people hoisted from the ground on July 27 were picked up well after sunset. The helicopter crews are well versed in night operations of the jungle penetrator. They have performed extensive training using night vision goggles to see in the dark.
The focus, said Purcell, "was to get the elderly, women and children out first and then come back for the rest."
Over the next three days, crews would continue to airlift stranded residents and vacationers in addition to dropping water and Meals Ready to Eat to those still on the ground.