San Juan River: Historic flood threatens Pagosa Springs
The river is forecast to crest at 21.9 feet, surpassing the 1911 flood that destroyed the town.
By Charlotte Dubois ·
Mandatory evacuations took hold across the Southwest on Sunday as heavy rainfall triggered flash flooding. In Pagosa Springs, a Colorado resort town of more than 2,000 people, officials warned of a potentially catastrophic event as the San Juan River rose toward historic levels.
The river is forecast to reach 21.9 feet by late Sunday night. That level is higher than the 17.8-foot crest recorded during the 1911 flood, which wiped out most of the existing town. By sundown, the water had already reached about 14 feet, prompting officials to close all roads in and out of the community.
Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Vicky Schaffer urged residents not to wait to leave their homes. She noted that emergency crews would be limited during the peak of the storm. Residents in low-lying areas near the San Juan, Rio Blanco, Navajo, and Piedra rivers were directed to a shelter at a local church.
Katie German, owner of Bruin Coffee, reported that downtown Pagosa Springs was evacuated with street flooding visible. She expressed concern over the single bridge into town washing out, which would block trucks carrying food and fuel. German said she was worried about her business and employees, noting that town officials had only lifted a similar evacuation order the previous week.
The flooding extends well beyond Colorado. In Sedona, Arizona, officials ordered residents near Oak Creek to leave immediately after floodwaters trapped people in their homes. State air rescue crews assisted with rooftop evacuations while transportation crews cleared debris. Gov. Katie Hobbs confirmed the state’s involvement in the response.
Meteorologist Aaron Hardin with the National Weather Service in Tucson said the region is receiving two or three months of rain in a matter of days. The weather service issued flood warnings for nearly all of Arizona, parts of southern Utah, southwestern Colorado, western New Mexico, and southern Nevada. A man in Flagstaff remains missing after slipping into fast-moving floodwaters near a church, where volunteers filled sandbags to keep water out of the building.
In Yavapai County, nearly 20 residents needed emergency assistance to relocate from their homes. No injuries or deaths were reported in that area. The rains began Saturday evening and are expected to continue through Monday, with estimates of up to 4 inches of precipitation fueled by Pacific storm systems.
