The Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office and Incident Management Team are closely tracking the changes to the forecast for this weekend.
A Flood Warning is in effect from Sunday morning to Monday morning for the San Juan River at Pagosa Springs. A Winter Weather Warning is in effect for the same time period for the mountains. Periods of heavy rain will begin around sunrise Sunday and continue through Monday morning. Three inches of rain is expected for the Pagosa Springs area with up to 18 inches of snow in the mountains, depending on elevation. The San Juan River is expected to crest at 16.9 feet (compared to 15.02 feet last week and a historic record of 17.8 feet) around midnight Sunday night. As of Saturday morning, the river has already begun to rise.
Mandatory evacuation orders for all low-lying areas along the San Juan, Rio Blanco, Navajo and Piedra Rivers are still in effect. If you have not evacuated, do so today. Those who have chosen not to evacuate should expect higher water levels than last week and must be prepared to safely shelter in place for the duration of the storm. Emergency responders may not be able to reach you. Prepare now. Gather essential supplies including your go-bag, food and water, medications, critical documents, and a fully charged cellphone. If needed, include pet supplies like food, medications and a leash/muzzle. Go to the highest floor or upper level of your structure. Avoid attics unless you have no other choice; rising floodwater can trap you inside with no way out. Go to the roof if water continues to rise inside the building and forces you higher, move out onto the roof and call 911. Monitor local emergency alerts for updates.
Consider moving livestock to higher ground. The CSU Extension Office has resources for livestock if needed. Text Extension agent Cindi Galabota at (970) 903-9860 for help.
Even if you are not in an evacuation area, we urge you to consider evacuating to a safe area for at least the duration of the storm if you have medical needs or do not have the resources to safely shelter in place. Conditions following the storm may delay our ability to reach you. Don't assume help will be immediately available if you become stranded or need assistance.
Sand and bags are available at the Public Works Building (1122 U.S. 84) and the Los Pinos Fire Station at 275 Browning Ave. in Ignacio. These are self-fill stations. A limited amount of pre-filled bags are available at the Public Works Building for those who cannot fill their own.
If you have an emergency, call 911. If you need help evacuating, call the non-emergency dispatch line at (970) 731-2160. For other flood related questions, call the Incident Call Center at (970) 508-9928.
>