San Juan River projected to hit 12.30 feet in Farmington tonight

Residents within half a mile of the Animas, La Plata, and San Juan rivers were ordered to evacuate Monday, marking the second major flooding event in the region in two weeks.

The current crisis stems from a rapid succession of storms. Heavy rain began Saturday night and continued intermittently into Monday morning. The National Weather Service reported that the weekend storms dropped 1.5 inches of rain on Farmington and between two and three inches on the Durango, Colorado, area. Much of the soil in both locations remained saturated from the previous week's flooding. Vicki Shaffer, an incident public information officer for Archuleta County, Colorado, noted that the ground was too saturated to absorb the additional water, causing the rivers to spill over their banks.

County spokesman Devin Neeley stated that evacuations are in effect from border to border, encompassing areas in New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona. No fatalities had been reported as of Monday. The San Juan River is projected to reach a major flood stage of 12.30 feet in Farmington on Monday evening. The river is also expected to crest at 21.12 feet in Shiprock overnight. Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe warned that the Shiprock crest is expected around midnight, a dangerous time for evacuations. He added that the river is not expected to drop below flood stage in Shiprock until Tuesday evening.

The Farmington Electric Utility System preemptively cut power to several low-lying areas, including South Church Street and County Road 5005 in Bloomfield, Lee Acres, Wild Horse Valley, and Harper Valley. Neeley estimated that a few hundred homes were affected by these shutoffs, though the number could be higher. All drinking water in the county remains safe and available. The American Red Cross shelter at McGee Park in Farmington is open, and 191 people took refuge there Sunday night. Livestock are being housed at 4 Corners Stockyards in Kirtland, and pets can be brought to 109 E. Piñon St. in Farmington.

This round of flooding impacts an area larger than last week's surge. Neeley said the new orders involve more people and a wider area than the previous event. Hebbe noted that while the water levels are expected to be at least as high as last week, he does not anticipate as much new damage. Rescue workers are going door to door in the Cedar Hill area near the Colorado border. Neeley estimated that between 200 and 300 people were rescued during last week's storms. Additional support from the New Mexico National Guard and New Mexico State Police is currently on the scene.

Local residents are reporting mixed impacts. Almie Lambson, a Bloomfield resident, evacuated his home Sunday night after the San Juan River jumped its banks again. His home's crawlspace was inundated during the previous flood, damaging insulation and electrical systems. Sheldon Pickering, a business owner in Kirtland, said his home on a hill avoided damage, but his riverbank property features were washed away. He noted that an employee who lives in a mobile home park near McGee Park lost everything except her clothes. Dave Dailey, a Farmington real estate agent, observed that the flooding has heavily impacted residents of modest means living closest to the water. The Farmington Chamber of Commerce has converted its space on the San Juan College campus into a Multi Agency Resource Center for centralized flood recovery assistance.

The San Juan River is expected to continue flooding through Tuesday as waters flow downstream from southern Colorado. The Colorado Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is coordinating with New Mexico to track water flow across state lines. The level of the San Juan River in Colorado was creeping down Monday afternoon, but a significant amount of water remained outside the river channel. A dedicated flood damage line at 505-599-1238 is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday for residents to report meter damage or schedule safety inspections.