Historic Flooding Engulfs New Mexico, Prompting Rooftop Rescues

Massive flooding has inundated parts of northwest New Mexico, trapping families on rooftops and necessitating urgent helicopter rescues. The deluge, described as a "once-in-a-generation" event, has overwhelmed communities along the San Juan and Animas rivers, leading to widespread evacuations and a significant emergency response.

Communities in San Juan County experienced severe flooding on Thursday as water levels surged along the rivers. The New Mexico State Police and National Guard were actively engaged in rescue operations, plucking stranded residents from rooftops and navigating the treacherous waters in Bloomfield. Floodwaters have submerged vehicles, infiltrated homes, and forced residents to seek higher ground.

Aimee Goodday recounted her terrifying experience to KOAT, describing how freezing floodwaters began pouring into her trailer around midnight Friday. She and her family were forced onto their roof, where they remained for 12 hours before rescue arrived. "We lost everything, everything… We were all freaked out and stuff, but one of us had to be the adult," she said.

Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe characterized the event as unprecedented and dangerous, emphasizing the severity of the situation while noting that no fatalities had been reported. "This is a once-in-a-generation time. This is singular and this is real. So far, we have not had any deaths but this is not anything that should be played with," Hebbe stated at a press conference.

By KOAT's reporting, at least 60 rescues were conducted between Farmington and Bloomfield since Thursday afternoon. A critical rescue involved an infant suffering seizures who was airlifted by the New Mexico National Guard on Thursday night. The flooding also prompted the evacuation of approximately 600 households in Farmington, with emergency shelters established at McGee Park to accommodate displaced families.

The extreme weather event was triggered by a Pacific storm system that moved inland, bringing heavy rainfall that contributed to the surge of runoff into the San Juan and Animas rivers. The storm has impacted multiple states across the Southwest, including Colorado, Utah, and Arizona.

In Utah, the city of Hurricane declared an emergency on Thursday after around 80 homes and 50 recreational vehicles were affected by flooding. Southern Colorado also experienced significant inundation, with floodwaters reportedly reaching four to five feet deep in some homes, forcing residents to evacuate.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis announced that approximately 1,000 families had been evacuated as of Friday morning. He declared a disaster emergency for the region and urged residents to adhere to guidance from local officials as they navigate the widespread flooding.