Flooding in the southwestern United States damaged wastewater facilities and released sewage into the San Juan River, officials said on October 25. Associated Press reported continuing evacuations near Farmington, New Mexico, as crews checked neighborhoods for hazards. More rain threatened the Four Corners, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet.
In Shiprock, on the Navajo Nation, flood damage to wastewater facilities and holding ponds caused sewage releases, utility district manager Wilfred Franklin Jr. told AP. The quantity entering the river remained unknown on Sunday. Officials warned floodwater could contain chemicals and raw sewage, with hazards from broken gas lines and fallen power lines.
San Juan County spokesperson Devin Neeley told AP officials lacked counts of damaged homes and evacuees and knew of no deaths in the county. Many residents remained displaced and hundreds lacked electricity. Crews were inspecting homes before allowing returns, with checks potentially taking days.
The United States National Weather Service continued issuing flood warnings on October 25. Its Shiprock bulletin said minor flooding persisted and forecast a further decline in the river, but lacked current observations. A separate watch warned that additional rain could flood already soaked areas of eastern New Mexico. Falling rivers did not end all local hazards.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement carried by KSJE that about 58 National Guard personnel deployed to San Juan County on Friday and Saturday. Rescue teams used boats and helicopters to reach stranded residents. On Saturday, the governor requested a federal emergency declaration covering four counties and five tribal communities, seeking support for debris removal and emergency protection.
The governor and National Guard Major General Miguel Aguilar were scheduled to visit San Juan County on Monday, October 26, to assess damage and meet responders and families, according to the governor’s statement. Damage assessments were still underway. Officials prioritized identifying hazards, supporting displaced households and determining when evacuated areas could safely reopen.
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