Archuleta County Confirms 540 Homes Damaged in Historic Flood

Archuleta County officials confirmed on Tuesday that more than 500 homes were impacted by recent flooding, with the county chair estimating the total number of damaged structures at over 800. Warren Brown, chair of the Board of County Commissioners, stated that roughly 540 of those structures are homes. He added that the recovery process is likely to take years to complete.

The damage assessment reveals that approximately 150 of the county's 595 miles of roadway are currently impassable. Sheriff Mike Le Roux described the event as catastrophic and unprecedented during a community meeting in Pagosa Springs. He noted that residents had not witnessed an act of nature of this magnitude in the county's modern history.

The flooding followed a period of heavy rain that began on October 23. The San Juan River in Pagosa Springs rose from five feet to more than 15 feet, marking its highest crest in 115 years. It took until the weekend for the water level to recede to the height seen in the previous October flood, which town officials had previously classified as a 100-year event.

Pagosa Springs Town Manager David Harris said the back-to-back flooding has tested the community's resilience. He emphasized that staff, first responders, and neighbors worked together to address the crisis. The town, along with Mayor Shari Pierce, formally declared a local disaster emergency on Thursday. This declaration was issued due to extensive flood-related damage to roads, bridges, culverts, and other public infrastructure.

The weather pattern that caused the flooding originated from a tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean and the remnants of Hurricane Trudy. This moisture surge affected 12 counties in southern Colorado, as well as parts of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. In the Rio Grande and Mineral counties, damage assessment teams surveyed more than 1,300 homes and businesses. The Rio Grande River flooded the communities of Monte Vista, Del Norte, and South Fork.

The South Fork of the Rio Grande rose more than six feet in 36 hours, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The river peaked at roughly nine feet early Friday morning. While it is unclear how many of the surveyed buildings in those areas sustained damage, the state has estimated that the flood caused roughly $65 million in damages to three main highways.

Those highways are U.S. 160, U.S. 550, and Colorado 151. The Colorado Department of Transportation requested federal assistance on Wednesday to begin emergency repairs. Officials hope to make the highways travel-ready before winter, with further work expected to continue in the spring.

Rescue operations have focused on isolating residents who were cut off from the rest of the county. Steve Peck, an operations chief with the Colorado Incident Management Team, stated that at least 38 people were rescued in Archuleta County. He described the terrain as creating islands where residents could not access roads. The Colorado National Guard assisted in an estimated 50 rescues statewide, including 20 pets.

No injuries or deaths have been reported from the flooding, according to Peck. Julie Constan, the CDOT Southwest Transportation Director, acknowledged that some damage will require time to permanently repair. She stated that the department is committed to the long haul of restoration.