Twelve Colorado Counties Under Emergency Declaration

Governor Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency for twelve counties in southwestern Colorado on Monday. The declaration follows days of heavy rain that caused severe flooding across the region. Officials confirmed that no deaths or injuries were reported as of Monday, but the physical damage remains extensive.

The storm system carried tropical moisture from the Pacific Ocean into the area. It dropped between two and five inches of rain on most of the San Juan Mountains. Some specific locations received more than six inches of water. This precipitation caused streams to swell and rivers to surge. In Pagosa Springs, the San Juan River rose from five feet to fifteen feet within two days. National Weather Service meteorologist Dennis Phillips noted that this was the second highest crest since the record set in 1911.

Conditions began to improve on Monday as blue skies returned temporarily. However, a new storm is expected to reach the region starting Friday. Public information officer Vicki Shaffer warned that the ground is already saturated. She stated that the earth cannot hold any more water, which increases the risk of further issues during the next weather event.

In Rio Grande County, dozens of homes remained under evacuation orders on Monday. A bridge was washed away, and radio stations went off the air. A boil water advisory was issued after the sewage system became overwhelmed. Sheriff's deputies were pulled from local flood response to help with search and rescue efforts for hunters stuck in the mud in the high country.

Patrick Moran, a Forest Service district ranger, addressed about 130 residents inside a church hall in South Fork. He urged people to stay put until crews could assess road conditions. He explained that the high country is locked out by snow and more snow is in the forecast. He estimated that some areas might not be accessible until after spring runoff.

Archuleta County responders focused on evacuating residents to safer areas ahead of the Friday storm. Teams went door to door on County Road 500, County Road 339, and Colorado 151. Shaffer reported that one team had visited more than 100 homes on Monday. In some places, the gravel and road base were washed away entirely. An evacuation center was set up at the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association Clubhouse.

Alamosa County fared better due to a 6.4-mile levee system along the Rio Grande. Emergency manager Eric Treinen said the system contained most of the water. The river flowed at 3,500 cubic feet per second on Monday, which is higher than the 2,600 cubic feet per second recorded during the 2019 floods. No residents were under mandatory evacuation in Alamosa County.

In La Plata County, the Animas Valley north of Durango flooded. County roads 334 and 520 were closed, and sections of roads 319 and 314 had only one lane open. The Animas River peaked at over 11,000 cubic feet per second before dropping below 5,000. Durango broke its all-time precipitation record for October, according to Phillips.

Mineral County closed its community center and mining museum indefinitely. County administrator Janelle Kukuk said water damaged the building's electrical system. The museum, built into a rock cliff, has been hit by long rainstorms since September. Officials are watching for a hard freeze to stabilize the hillsides and prevent landslides.

Conejos County is using National Guard personnel to assist sheriff's deputies in assessing damage. Sheriff Garth Crowther told residents to respect road closures until crews confirm safety. He said the community would be back to normal soon. Dolores County reported marginal impacts, with the main issues being impassable dirt roads and minor washouts.