Amtgardians step up where law enforcement doesn’t during flood in Ruidoso.**UPDATED**

When someone from Mundania¹ gets their first impression of an Amtgarder outside the game, it’s usually one of uncommon candor, and all-too-often a mistaken impression of moral ambiguity. I’ve been in life-threatening situations more than most police officers, and most of those situations were directly influenced in a positive manner…by people from Amtgard². While I am on a hiatus from my regular habits of self-injuring joy on the field on weekends…when I heard about what happened at this weekend’s event…I am in awe. I am going to have to quote this as I honestly am speechless, and altogether VERY happy this was an Amtgard event, where some values on life are more likely to be realized. We may in fact be a rough group, sometimes gruff…rude…and quite anti-social…but it doesn’t mean we don’t have some very important values.

Late Saturday night, multiple areas around Ruidoso were flooded. One of those areas was the campground used for the Amtgard event known as The Gathering of the Clans. This is a big event. Depending on the year, groups ranging from 200-800 camp for a four-day festive event. Around 4am, evacuation orders came through and the campgrounds were evacuated…in a fashion…

The river of water was exceptionally deep and swift and there was no way they could safely cross it on their own. They were stuck in the cold rain, with no shelter for about 3 hours, until an Amtgarder who chooses to remain anonymous, rescued the 4 of them by himself with a piece of rope. The “cops” never once got out of their cars. They made sure they stayed warm in their cars, smoking thier ciggs. None of them offered us any clothing or any real assistance whatsoever. Being a paramedic, i find this appalling that a so called public servant wouldn’t even attempt to help. I told them I was a paramedic and they wouldn’t even help me out by giving me a jacket and a rope to even try to help save them. Finally we see the boys walking towards us and get them into the trucks to warm up.

I am appalled. Not that an Amtgardian took matters into his own hands (that’s albeit expected…one of us always steps up)…but that the local law enforcement wasn’t interested in helping. This is a poor example that law enforcement doesn’t need, but has handed to the public on with bell attached in a time where law enforcement is supposed to set the example. I can rattle off loads of stories where I’ve seen someone face a challenge like this head on, in my opinion…it’s everyone’s duty to contribute in any initiative that saves lives…even those that involve risk. What I can’t believe is that people who are PAID to do exactly that weren’t involved in helping. I am inspired to make a bigger issue of this. Here are the local articles and updates:

http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=8742351
http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=8742933&nav=menu193_2_4
http://www.koat.com/news/17005517/detail.html
http://kob.com/article/stories/S525369.shtml?cat=504&v=1&articleID=7626

I am looking to see if there is anyone still stranded in Ruidoso because of lost vehicles, etc. but not having much luck. If anyone knows if there are collections or relief funds etc please let me know directly.

-Tony