Archuleta County flood damage tops 500 homes as road repairs begin

Colorado Department of Transportation officials requested federal assistance on Wednesday to begin emergency repairs on three major highways damaged by recent flooding. The state estimates the water caused roughly $65 million in damage to U.S. 160, U.S. 550, and Colorado 151. Crews aim to make these routes travel-ready before winter arrives, with permanent work expected to continue into the spring.

Archuleta County officials confirmed Tuesday night that more than 500 homes were impacted by the flooding. Warren Brown, chair of the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners, addressed a community meeting in Pagosa Springs. Brown stated that the flood damaged more than 800 structures, including approximately 540 homes. He added that the recovery process is likely to take years.

The flooding followed heavy rain that surged the San Juan River in Pagosa Springs from 5 feet to more than 15 feet by the morning of October 23. This marked the river’s highest crest in 115 years. The water took all of Friday and most of Saturday to recede to the level seen in the previous October flood, which local officials at the time labeled a 100-year event.

Mike Le Roux, the Archuleta County Sheriff, described the flooding as catastrophic and unprecedented. Speaking at the Tuesday night meeting, he said the event was absolutely devastating. He noted that the county had not witnessed an act of nature of this scale in recent memory.

Rescue operations have extracted an estimated 50 people and 20 pets from stranded locations, according to the Colorado National Guard. Steve Peck, an operations chief with the Colorado Incident Management Team, specified that at least 38 people were rescued in Archuleta County. Peck explained that while some roads were completely impassable, residents in isolated areas were trapped on islands of dry land. Rescue teams worked to pull these individuals to safety.

No injuries or deaths have been reported from the flooding, according to Peck. David Harris, Pagosa Springs Town Manager, said in a statement that experiencing major flooding in back-to-back years has tested the community. He emphasized that staff, first responders, and neighbors came together to support one another. Harris and Mayor Shari Pierce formally declared a local disaster emergency on Thursday.

The emergency declaration cited extensive flood-related damage to roads, bridges, culverts, and other public infrastructure. The weather system originated from a tropical storm in the Pacific and the remnants of Hurricane Trudy. This surge of moisture caused widespread flooding across 12 counties in southern Colorado, as well as parts of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico.

Damage assessment teams have surveyed more than 1,300 homes and businesses in Rio Grande and Mineral counties. The Rio Grande River flooded the communities of Monte Vista, Del Norte, and South Fork, according to South Fork Fire Rescue. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that the South Fork of the Rio Grande rose more than 6 feet in 36 hours. The river peaked at roughly 9 feet early Friday morning.

Julie Constan, CDOT Southwest Transportation Director, stated in a Wednesday release that some damage will require time to permanently repair. She noted that the department is committed to the long-term effort of restoring the region's transportation network.