When the rains struck Texas, Michael Martin Murphey — the voice of the Western soul — watched as hometowns disappeared under water. But just as hope began to stir again, New Mexico cried out. And this time, it was personal.

“I’ve sung under the New Mexico sky for decades,” Murphey once said. “That land is part of who I am.”

On Tuesday, flash floods devastated the mountain village of Ruidoso, a place beloved by artists, ranchers, and families seeking refuge in the pines. In minutes, the Rio Ruidoso surged over 20 feet, swallowing bridges, homes, and roads.

“We knew there would be floods… but this one hit harder than we expected,” said Ruidoso Mayor Lynn D. Crawford.

At least three people remain missing, and more than 85 water rescues have been carried out — some pulling people from their homes, others from the roofs of cars. One artist, Kaitlyn Carpenter, watched helplessly as a house floated past the brewery where she took shelter. It belonged to her best friend’s family.

“I’ve been in that house. I have memories there. Watching it float down the river… I just couldn’t believe it,” she said through tears.

The heartbreak doesn’t stop there. Dead horses were reported near the town’s race track. Emergency shelters have opened for displaced families, and National Guard units are flooding in. The scene is hauntingly similar to the fires of 2024, which destroyed over 1,400 structures in the same area. But now, the scars left by fire have made the floods even worse — the land simply can’t hold the water anymore.

Michael Martin Murphey knows these hills, these people. He’s shared songs with them, broken bread with them. And today, he’s not just mourning — he’s speaking up.

“This isn’t about music. This is about humanity. These are my neighbors. If you’ve ever felt something stir in your chest listening to ‘Wildfire’… now’s the time to give something back.”