San Juan County officials described the region as facing a terrible crisis on Friday, October 23, 2026, due to widespread flooding along the San Juan and Animas rivers. Heavy rains in the headwaters of the rivers in southern Colorado caused both rivers to jump their banks and flow into Farmington and other areas of northwest New Mexico.
According to a National Weather Service database, the flooding has damaged approximately 1,500 homes and prompted swiftwater rescues for at least 60 people since Thursday afternoon. Devin Neeley, a spokesperson for the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, stated Friday that the actual number of rescues and damaged homes could be higher. During a news conference on Friday, officials noted that several people had to be rescued from their rooftops.
Floodwaters have also breached the Bloomfield wastewater treatment center. Neeley stated Friday that this has turned the San Juan River into a haz-mat situation zone because raw sewage is in the river, and he advised the public to stay out of the water.
San Juan County Commission Chair Sam Gonzales said Friday that the county is seeking both state and federal disaster declarations to unlock additional resources. Gonzales stated that the county is in grave danger and is doing the best it possibly can. While officials confirmed no one has died due to the flooding, the San Juan Basin remains under multiple flood watches and warnings that are in effect through the weekend.
Danielle Silva, a spokesperson for the state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said the state has activated an Emergency Operations Center and sent additional swiftwater rescue teams to the area. The New Mexico governor’s office previously issued a disaster declaration in late September for ongoing flooding, providing the county access to a portion of approximately $3.75 million authorized for response.
Leah March, a spokesperson for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, said the state has deployed resources including helicopters for rooftop rescues and boats to support San Juan County. NWS meteorologist Randall Hergert noted that heavy rain and river flooding across the San Juan Basin remains the biggest concern for Friday and Saturday. He added that additional runoff could come from southern Colorado even if the rain stops in San Juan County.
Meteorologists predict that while the region faces risks of heavy rain and flooding through the weekend, drying conditions are expected into next week. Forecasters predict that winds and rain will calm by Sunday, October 25, 2026.
