New Mexico flood damage estimates reach $300 million

Storm systems linked to an active El Niño season caused severe flooding across four southwestern states last week.

The San Juan River in New Mexico expanded to 13 times its normal volume within 36 hours. Water levels in Farmington rose from 3.5 feet on Thursday morning to 14 feet by Friday. This surge likely set a new record for the highest water level ever recorded in the city. The rapid rise overwhelmed local defenses despite efforts to manage water flow from upstream Navajo Reservoir.

Two dry tributaries, Gobernador Canyon and Cañon Largo, sent additional flood surges into the city. San Juan County public information officer Devon Neeley described the event as a catastrophic flood of historic proportions. He noted that the river became wider than residents had seen in their lifetimes. Rescue teams from the National Guard, police, fire crews, and out of state units pulled between 200 and 300 residents to safety. Crews used helicopters to lift people from rooftops and amphibious vehicles to navigate deep water.

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham visited San Juan County on Monday to assess the damage. She stated that infrastructure repairs alone could cost between 200 and 300 million dollars. Lujan Grisham expressed hope that the total spend might be closer to 30 to 40 million dollars, but acknowledged the high costs of environmental and road repairs. She signed executive orders to release 8.25 million dollars in state funding for flood response. The federal government partially granted New Mexico's request for an emergency declaration on Monday night.

The flooding displaced thousands of people across Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona. In South Fork, Colorado, fire captain Tyler Schmidt reported that several neighborhoods were under two to three feet of water. Responders in the San Luis Valley are testing well water and assessing damaged bridges. In Arizona, sewage spills from flooded treatment plants in Sedona have affected drinking water supplies. The Hopi and Navajo reservations also reported washed out roads and historic flooding. Officials in Farmington urge residents to stay out of their homes until hazards like raw sewage, gas lines, and live power are cleared.