When floodwaters surged through a neighborhood in Bloomfield, New Mexico, it was a homeless man who became the community’s unlikely guardian. Joseph Barrela, who has been without permanent housing for about three years and was living beneath a local bridge, noticed the water rising days before many residents did. Determined to protect his neighbors, he went door‑to‑door, pounding on doors and waking families as the river crept over its banks.
Neighbors credit Barrela’s warning with saving lives and property
Lonnie Campbell, whose family was sleeping when Barrela knocked, said the man’s persistence made all the difference. “We were actually sleeping inside, and then Joseph Barrela came and knocked on the door, pounded, made sure we were awake,” Campbell recalled. “Because of his warning we were able to save our vehicles, our dogs, and my grandparents got out in time.”
Barrela explained that he had been watching the water level rise for days. “The water was already coming up over the bank; many people didn’t notice that but I did,” he said.
Rescue attempts continued after evacuation
Even after most families had fled, Barrela kept checking on homes. He warned a neighbor across the street that water was already in their backyard and that it would climb quickly with any additional rain. While patrolling the streets, he spotted a semi‑truck stranded in the flood, its lights flashing, and believed someone was still inside.
“After I evacuated the neighborhood, I jumped in and tried to help that truck, and I got swept away and almost died,” Barrela recounted. Caught in the current, he called out for help, clinging to anything he could find. In that desperate moment, he turned to prayer.
Faith sustains him through danger
“It was time to ask, ‘Holy Heavenly Father, please forgive me for anything I did at this moment,’” Barrela said. “I know that you can forgive me eternally and save my eternal soul. But tonight, can you please save my flesh?”
Rescue crews arrived shortly thereafter, pulling him from the water. “I got rescued, and from there I was able to come over here and help more,” he said.
From rescue to ministry
Since the flood, Barrela has begun volunteering at First Baptist Church in Bloomfield, assisting other flood victims with food, clothing and shelter. While neighbors call him a hero, Barrela humbly attributes the strength he displayed to God. “No, God’s the hero. I don’t like to hear it because God is the hero. He’s the one that gives us strength,” he said.
For San Juan County residents still recovering, the county Office of Emergency Management continues to provide information on resources and recovery assistance.
Community response
Local leaders and volunteers have praised Barrela’s self‑less actions, noting that his example underscores the power of ordinary citizens—regardless of their circumstances—to protect one another in times of crisis. The story has resonated with many in Bloomfield, reminding the town that compassion and faith can rise above hardship.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
