Southwest floods force hundreds to evacuate and kill at least one person
Arizona's governor declares a statewide emergency and Colorado's governor asks for a federal declaration, while Colorado officials arrange alternative voting for flooded Pagosa Springs residents.
Heavy rain fueled by El Niño flooded parts of the US Southwest through Monday, Nov. 2. Hundreds of people evacuated across the Four Corners region, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet, and rescue teams carried out dozens of operations. At least one person died, and police suspect a second death was weather-related.
The Boston Globe reports that a man who fell into floodwaters in Flagstaff, Arizona, on Sunday was found dead Monday. In Pagosa Springs, Colorado, the San Juan River reached 16.81 feet late Sunday, the weather service said, below the 17.8 feet of the 1911 flood, and receded Monday. According to Courthouse News, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis asked for a federal emergency declaration for Archuleta and Rio Grande counties, and Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs declared a statewide emergency Monday but has not yet requested federal help.
The Globe says Colorado's Secretary of State's office arranged alternative voting for evacuated or marooned Pagosa Springs residents. The rain has raised reservoirs, but the Seattle Times reports Lake Powell remains less than 26% full. Hydrologist Cody Moser of the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center said wet autumns have no observed link to snowy winters.
- 16.81 feet (5.1 meters) San Juan River level at Pagosa Springs late Sunday, per the weather service — The Boston Globe
- 17.8 feet (5.4 meters) crest of the 1911 San Juan flood — The Boston Globe
- Over 20 trillion gallons rain on Four Corners states and Nevada in two weeks, by Ryan Maue's calculations — The Boston Globe
- 7.3 inches (18.5 cm) rain over two days at Workman Creek, Arizona — The Boston Globe
- less than 26% how full Lake Powell remains — The Seattle Times
Three sides of the story
Liberal1 outlet
floodwaters, rescues and disrupted Election Day voting plans
The Boston Globe's headline, "Floods swamp the arid Southwest, forcing evacuations and altering Election Day plans," names the two threads of its report. Its first paragraph describes unusually heavy rain sending large volumes of water through the region, with hundreds ordered out of their homes and rescue crews working on the water. One person died, and police suspect a second death is also weather-related.
The Globe quotes Durango police Chief Brice Current, "There is still a lot of people stranded," and National Weather Service meteorologist Jennifer Tate, who calls the storm "a very broad system." It cites Ryan Maue's calculation of over 20 trillion gallons of rain. A closing section covers Pagosa Springs, where the Colorado Secretary of State's office set alternative voting plans, and the owner of Bruin Coffee, Katie German, says she is worried about the town's one bridge.
Center3 outlets
disaster declarations and what rain means for water
Courthouse News headlines "Torrential rains spell disaster across Southwest" and reports one of the wettest weekends on record. It quotes Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, who asked for a federal emergency declaration, saying the damage "exceeds what state and local resources can address alone." It says Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs declared a statewide emergency Monday after pressure from Republican lawmakers, and quotes state climatologist Russ Schumacher on drought easing "at the expense of the communities" flooded.
Euronews leads with aerial images of submerged roads and fields, describes homes and vehicles swept away in Arboles, Colorado, and says around 200 Durango residents joined clean-up efforts. The Seattle Times asks why the floods will not solve the water crisis. It reports Lake Powell is less than 26% full, and Arizona State's Kathryn Sorensen says the rain gives "a little bit of breathing room."
Its photo gallery says officials said cleanup and repairs could take weeks.
- Courthouse News: Torrential rains spell disaster across Southwest
- Euronews: Flash floods devastate US Southwest, sweeping away homes and cars
- The Seattle Times: Why Southwestern floods won’t solve a water crisis
- The Seattle Times: Flood risks remain after storms forced evacuations in US Southwest, in photos
Conservative1 outlet
a Colorado town braces for a historic river crest
The New York Post runs an Associated Press report, "Flash flooding triggers evacuations in Southwest and dire warning for tiny Colorado town," that opens on Sunday's flash flooding and mandatory evacuations. Its main thread is Pagosa Springs, Colorado, where the Archuleta County Sheriff's Office called the forecast San Juan River crest "a potentially catastrophic flood event" and set it against the 1911 flood. The town reimposed its evacuation order Saturday, with the river forecast to crest at 21.9 feet Sunday night.
In Sedona, Arizona, officials ordered people near Oak Creek to leave as floodwaters trapped several in their homes, and resident Michelle Grimm says she had never seen helicopters rescue people from neighborhoods. National Weather Service meteorologist Aaron Hardin says Tucson is getting "two or three months of rain" in a couple of days. The report says police were searching for a man who fell into floodwaters in Flagstaff.
Yavapai County spokesperson David McAtee said no injuries or deaths had so far been reported there.
Which side made the stronger case?
Colorado's secretary of state's office says flood-hit Pagosa Springs residents who were mailed a ballot may ask for a new one at any vote center in the state. Anyone voting in person away from their home county gets only statewide races. may be dropped at any drop box or vote center in Colorado until 7 p.m. on Election Day. The La Plata County clerk has extra hours Tuesday.
All sources: 6 articles from 5 outlets
Liberal (1)
- The Boston Globe: Floods swamp the arid Southwest, forcing evacuations and altering Election Day plans
Center (4)
- Courthouse News: Torrential rains spell disaster across Southwest
- Euronews: Flash floods devastate US Southwest, sweeping away homes and cars
- The Seattle Times: Why Southwestern floods won’t solve a water crisis
- The Seattle Times: Flood risks remain after storms forced evacuations in US Southwest, in photos
Conservative (1)
The morning edition by email
One email a day: the three main stories, each with its three sides. No ads. Unsubscribe with one tap.
A Telegram channel is coming soon.