Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Remnants of Hurricane Trudy flooded the Four Corners, forcing hundreds of rescues around Farmington, NM and record river levels at Pagosa Springs, CO, with more storms due.
Floodwater is still moving through the Four Corners region this weekend after days of rare October rain. The moisture came from the remnants of Hurricane Trudy, a Pacific storm that stalled over the Southwest as a slow low-pressure system. Rain picked up on Wednesday, October 21, and flooding peaked Thursday and Friday. More than 5 inches fell in places, according to the Associated Press. The National Weather Service reported up to 6 inches in the San Juan Mountains.
Farmington, New Mexico, took the worst of it. About 2,000 people in and around the city were affected. Officials ordered about 600 people to evacuate, and some residents were pulled from their roofs. AP reports at least a couple hundred rescues, though officials say they could not keep an accurate count. New Mexico National Guard helicopters flew 11 hoist rescues, each lifting up to eight people. Floodwater also pushed sewage into the San Juan River. Police Chief Steve Hebbe said Friday there had been no deaths. These figures are as of Saturday and are expected to change.
The flooding reached all four states. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis declared disaster emergencies in 11 counties and later added Conejos County. At Pagosa Springs, the San Juan River rose 2 to 3 feet above a flood officials called a 100-year event about a year ago. Nearly 100 Colorado National Guard members are working in Archuleta County. On the Navajo Nation, police rescued seven families, 30 people in all, near Dennehotso, Arizona. The Hopi Tribe declared a state of emergency over damaged roads, bridges and homes. In southern Utah, the city of Hurricane declared an emergency after floodwater damaged homes and an RV park.
Where it stands now: the San Juan and other rivers are dropping from record highs. Hundreds of homes remain evacuated and without power. U.S. 160 northeast of Pagosa Springs and a stretch of U.S. 64 west of Shiprock are still closed. Thunderstorm watches cover much of the region through Sunday, and officials warn of new surges. "This is not over, and we need you to monitor alerts," Hebbe said.
Rooftop rescues show how fast river water can reach a home at night. Knowing the first moves in flood survival buys you time when the water starts to rise. Set your phone to receive emergency alerts and charge it before storms arrive. A flood emergency kit packed in a waterproof bin lets you leave in minutes with medicine, documents and dry clothes. If you live near a river or a dry wash, a family flood plan sets your route out and your meeting place before the water comes up.
Families heading back to flooded homes face a second set of hazards. Farmington officials warned of downed power lines and leaking gas lines. Wait for the all-clear before you return, and treat every wire as live. Good flood cleanup starts with photos for your insurance claim and drying walls before mold sets in. Be Prepared Not Scared!
