Flood Cleanup Begins in Southwest

Heavy rainfall has transformed parts of the American Southwest into areas of deep mud and standing water.

Cleanup efforts began in earnest on Tuesday as floodwaters started to recede from the Four Corners region.

Former NOAA chief scientist Ryan Maue calculated that more than 20 trillion gallons of rain fell on the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada over the previous two weeks.

In Pagosa Springs, Colorado, the San Juan River caused severe damage during two separate flood events in recent weeks.

Jack Ellis, a retired school teacher, inspected the destruction along the riverbank where walkways and bridges had collapsed or sustained heavy damage.

Ellis described the situation as a disaster, particularly for residents in low-lying areas, and noted that the community would need to dig out the debris.

He expressed hope that the federal government would provide financial assistance, citing the shared tax base and mutual support among citizens during crises.

A local resort displayed a tarp-covered entrance and stacked sandbags near a sign that read "Love Pagosa."

Officials in the area stated that repairs could take several weeks to complete.

In Durango, about 60 miles west, Willow Bradner’s home was surrounded by approximately two feet of mud.

Nearly five feet of water from the overflowing Junction Creek entered the house at its peak.

Bradner, who operates a custom closet and storage business with her husband, said her basement, a key feature when she purchased the property in 2024, was completely filled with water and debris she described as a soup bowl of mud and items from the home's lower level. The couple and their teenage daughter were told in 2024 that they were outside the flood zone when they inquired about insurance. They were offered temporary housing through the end of the year and received help from neighbors with shovels, but the financial loss remains a major concern as they prepare to rebuild using their savings. In New Mexico’s San Juan County, officials confirmed that the San Juan, Animas, and La Plata rivers have all reached their peak flow. An agency posted online that while the rivers are not yet below flood stage, the waters will continue to drop. The agency estimated that it will take between 24 and 48 hours for the floodwaters to fully recede. The flooding also impacted local elections, with some communities in Colorado and Utah adjusting voting plans. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis issued an emergency declaration, leading to polling place changes in at least eight counties. One person died in the floodwaters, and police suspect a second death was weather-related. Swift-water rescue teams remained active as hundreds of evacuees returned to their homes.