Flood warnings remain in parts of the Four Corners after days of heavy rain

Flood warnings remained in effect on Oct. 26 across parts of the Southwest after days of heavy rain brought flash flooding, damaged homes, forced rescues and caused outages in the Four Corners region, according to the National Weather Service and local officials.

The hardest-hit areas included the region where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet, with some places receiving as much as five inches of rain since Oct. 21, according to the weather service. Floodwater turned roads into rivers in several communities, while authorities urged people in low-lying areas to leave and move to shelters.

Warnings stayed active as water moved through river basins

By Oct. 26, flood warnings were still posted in south-central Colorado, central New Mexico and southeastern Utah. Officials said the advisories were focused near riverbanks, where moving water could remain dangerous as runoff continued downstream.

Weather officials in Pueblo, Colorado, repeated a standard safety message for drivers and residents near flooded roads:

“Turn around, don’t drown.”

They warned that most flood deaths happen in vehicles and said drivers should not try to go around barricades or drive through standing water.

Rescues, evacuations and bridge closures spread across the region

The storms led to a series of emergency responses across tribal lands and nearby communities. The U.S. 160 bridge over the San Juan River near the Arizona-Colorado border was still closed on Oct. 25, according to the Navajo Police Department, and the Montezuma Creek Bridge was also shut. Navajo emergency management crews were working to evacuate residents in Bluff, Montezuma Creek and Aneth in southeastern Utah.

In northern Arizona, flooding hit communities in the path of the storms. In Lower Moencopi, a Hopi village near Tuba City, as many as 10 families were displaced, according to a resident quoted by the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network. The report said some people left their homes with only the clothes they were wearing.

In northwestern New Mexico, Navajo police said responders carried out 20 overnight rescue operations, some involving multiple people. The main rescue efforts were centered in Farmington and to the west toward Shiprock. In San Juan County, the New Mexico National Guard performed at least 11 helicopter hoist operations, according to officials, after residents were seen stranded on rooftops as floodwaters rose around their homes.

Storm damage reached infrastructure and utilities

The flooding also affected critical infrastructure. The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority said on Oct. 25 that Shiprock’s wastewater treatment plant had been disrupted by floodwaters. To keep sewage from backing up into homes and businesses, untreated wastewater was being released into the San Juan River, according to the utility.

The authority said Shiprock’s water supply was not affected because it runs on a separate system and remained safe to use. Still, it asked sewer customers to reduce water use to limit the amount of wastewater entering the river. It suggested putting off laundry, taking shorter showers and using dishwashers less often.

Officials also urged people to stay away from the San Juan River and nearby floodwaters, warning that the water could contain pathogens and other contaminants. They said children, pets and livestock should be kept out of the area.

What ordinary residents are being told to watch for

• Flood warnings remained active in parts of Colorado, New Mexico and Utah on Oct. 26.
• Some areas in the Four Corners region had received up to five inches of rain since Oct. 21, according to the National Weather Service.
• Authorities reported water rescues, evacuations, bridge closures and shelter openings.
• Flooding disrupted Shiprock’s wastewater treatment plant.
• Officials repeated warnings not to drive through flooded roads.

The storm system showed how quickly heavy rain can create risks far beyond the places where it first falls. For residents, the immediate concern was staying out of floodwater, avoiding damaged roads and following evacuation and safety orders as rivers and creeks continued to rise.

Source: Christopher Cann, Rey Covarrubias Jr., USA TODAY NETWORK