Colorado Governor Declares Disaster Emergency After 12 Counties Hit by Historic Flooding

Gov. Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency for 12 counties in Colorado on Monday after days of torrential rain triggered severe flooding across the southwestern part of the state.

The storm carried tropical moisture from the Pacific Ocean, dropping between two and five inches of water onto most of the San Juan Mountains. Some areas received over six inches of rain, according to National Weather Service data. Dennis Phillips, a NWS meteorologist in Grand Junction, stated that record precipitation likely fell in several parts of the Four Corners region.

In Rio Grande County, dozens of homes remained under evacuation orders as of Monday. The flooding washed away a bridge, shut down roads, and knocked local radio stations off the air. Officials issued a boil water advisory for residents after the sewage system became overwhelmed. In Archuleta County, responders focused on evacuating residents to safer areas ahead of another storm expected to arrive later this week.

Vicki Shaffer, a public information officer for the emergency response in Montezuma and Archuleta counties, said the ground is already saturated and cannot hold more water. She noted that teams had visited over 100 homes on Monday to check on residents and share evacuation instructions. In some cases, gravel and road bases were washed away, while in others, the road was completely gone.

La Plata County extended its local disaster declaration through the weekend. The Animas Valley north of Durango saw significant flooding, with the Animas River peaking at over 11,000 cubic feet per second. This flow rate is nearly eight times the river's annual peak during spring snowmelt, which typically reaches nearly 1,500 cubic feet per second according to U.S. Geological Survey data. Durango also broke its all-time precipitation record for October.

In Alamosa County, a 6.4-mile levee system along the Rio Grande contained most of the floodwaters. Eric Treinen, the county's emergency manager, said the river pushed 3,500 cubic feet per second on Monday morning without causing major issues. He noted that no residents were under mandatory evacuations, though some intermittent flooding occurred where culverts failed.

Conejos County deployed the National Guard to assist sheriff’s deputies in assessing damage and determining when residents could return home. Sheriff Garth Crowther told residents in a recorded update that some roads would remain barricaded until crews confirmed they were safe for travel. He urged residents to respect the closures and not be alarmed by guard members knocking on their doors.

Mineral County indefinitely closed its community center and mining museum after water damaged the building's electrical system. County administrator Janelle Kukuk said the museum, built into a rock cliff, has been hit by rainstorms since September. She described the latest flooding as the final strain on the structure. About eight residents in a housing development near Wolf Creek Pass returned home Sunday night after being forced to evacuate.

Patrick Moran, a Forest Service district ranger, warned that high country areas are locked out due to snow. He told about 130 residents gathered in a South Fork church hall that crews may not be able to assess some forest areas until after spring runoff. Another storm is expected to pass through the region starting Friday.