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Polis Declares Disaster Emergency for 11 Colorado Counties

By Drooid · Oct 24, 2026, 2:55 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Polis Declares Emergency

Gov. Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency for 11 Colorado counties, ordering evacuations.
San Juan County, New Mexico, ordered evacuation of 600 residents in Farmington.
Navajo Emergency Management rescued seven families, 30 people, from flooded homes in Dennehotso, Arizona.
Lemon Reservoir rose 4.8 feet to 77% capacity, 16.5 feet below full.
San Juan River peaked 15.02 feet, the second-highest crest on record.

Summary

Hopi Tribe Emergency

Officials called the flooding “once-in-a-generation,” describing it as the worst water levels in living memory.
Climate scientist Daniel Swain linked the floods to warm West Coast waters, an El Niño, and a heat wave.
Kris Sanders of the Weather Service recorded up to six inches of rain in the San Juan Mountains, a record.
The Hopi Tribe declared a state of emergency after heavy rain damaged roads, bridges, homes, and infrastructure.

Summary

Storm System Hits

A storm system fueled by Pacific moisture and Tropical Storm Trudy will hit New Mexico and southwest Colorado Wednesday.
Rainfall forecasts call for 1-3 inches statewide and 2-4 inches in the San Juan Mountains.
Severe thunderstorms Thursday could produce damaging winds, large hail, and an isolated tornado near the Four Corners.
Flash-flood risk peaks Thursday night into Friday morning, especially along the Rio Grande Valley and Albuquerque.

History

Historical Context

The 1993 Great Mississippi and Missouri Rivers Flood, which inundated roughly 30,000 sq mi, killed 50 people and caused $12-16 billion in damage, was the worst U.S. disaster since the 1927 Mississippi flood. President Bill Clinton’s disaster declaration spurred massive federal aid and levee projects, a precedent shaping today’s coordinated response to the San Juan River surge.

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Polis Declares Emergency

Gov. Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency for 11 Colorado counties, ordering evacuations.
San Juan County, New Mexico, ordered evacuation of 600 residents in Farmington.
Navajo Emergency Management rescued seven families, 30 people, from flooded homes in Dennehotso, Arizona.
Lemon Reservoir rose 4.8 feet to 77% capacity, 16.5 feet below full.
San Juan River peaked 15.02 feet, the second-highest crest on record.

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