In Archuleta County in southwestern Colorado, flooding affected about 540 homes, and crews carried out about 40 rescue missions. The figures were presented Tuesday at a meeting with residents in Pagosa Springs.
The flooding hit 12 counties in southern Colorado, as well as other areas in the Four Corners region. It was caused by a storm system that, starting Wednesday, brought moisture from the Pacific and the remnants of Hurricane Trudy. Heavy rain overwhelmed rivers from Thursday to Friday, leading to evacuations, damage to major transportation routes and the destruction of buildings.
According to Warren Brown, chairman of the Archuleta County commissioners, many buildings were affected by the flooding, including about 540 homes. As of Tuesday, no injuries or deaths had been reported there. The Colorado Incident Management Team carried out about 40 missions, during which 325 contacts were recorded, meaning checks of homes, vehicles and people in the field. Thirty-eight stranded people were safely led out, some of them with serious health problems.
County Sheriff Mike Le Roux said residents do not remember a disaster of this scale in the region. Four forest roads were severely damaged, leaving people stranded on the other side. Steve Peck of the emergency management team explained that some properties ended up on cut-off “islands.”
The San Juan River in Pagosa Springs rose about 9.5 feet in 34 hours and reached 15.02 feet at 5:30 a.m. Friday. That is the second-highest level on record, after the record 17.18 feet in 1911. In the San Luis Valley, the two-day rainfall total was the largest in the history of observations by the Colorado Climate Center. In Del Norte, 2.74 inches of rain fell.
Transportation officials are seeking millions of dollars in federal aid. Losses are still being assessed. The National Weather Service is forecasting another 1 to 3 inches of rain over the weekend, with the most expected Sunday morning. Residents should follow announcements from local authorities and information about road closures.
Source: Colorado Sun, Denver Post
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