Animas River breaches banks in Farmington as San Juan County orders evacuations

San Juan County emergency officials ordered evacuations in parts of Farmington on Monday after the Animas River overflowed its banks. The floodwaters breached the river's boundaries south of the Broadway Bridge, forcing residents to leave their homes.

The evacuation zone covers the area bounded by Cedar Street and Murray Drive on the north and south, and Broadway Avenue and Auburn Avenue on the east and west. The county also closed the Road 5500 bridge over the San Juan River in Lee Acres. The KOBF building, located half a mile from the river, is inside the evacuation area.

Officials warned Monday morning that they have not yet seen the crest of the San Juan and Animas rivers. The Navajo Dam stood at 68.48 percent capacity, with 47.84 feet of water separating the surface from the top of the spillway.

Several roads in the region remain closed due to the flooding. These include NM-511, Highway 539 in Navajo Lake State Park from mile marker 0 to 5, Road 3000 east of Pinion Hills, and the South Church, Calle Del Rio, CR5005, and CR5008 corridors in Bloomfield. The Miller Street Bridge in Farmington is also closed. U.S. 64 between NM-511 and Dulce reopened on Monday.

Village officials in Chama issued late Sunday night evacuations as the water rose. Residents in the Farmington area can shelter at McGee Park. Sandbags are available at San Juan County Fire Rescue Stations 11, 24, 42, and 62, the Lee Acres substation, Hills Church, the Bloomfield MOC, Wildhorse Valley, and Harper Valley.

The Red Cross shelter at McGee Park is open to those displaced by the flood. The Farmington Regional Animal Shelter at 133 Browning Parkway is accepting cats affected by the river flooding. Dogs and livestock are being transported and housed at the McGee Park Coliseum at 41 County Road 5568. The previous temporary site at 109 E. Pinon Street is closed because of high water levels.

For direct assistance, residents can call 505-408-6602. Live updates and an interactive map are available at perimetermap.com.