Severe flooding hits Four Corners region, more expected through the weekend
The Four Corners region is experiencing historic flash flooding that has forced evacuations and emergency declarations across New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. First responders are actively rescuing residents from inundated homes as river levels continue to rise to dangerous heights.
Why it matters
This event highlights the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events in the American Southwest, posing significant risks to infrastructure and public safety.
Looking out a window on Friday afternoon, Devin Neeley saw light, puffy clouds and a blue sky in San Juan County, N.M. The county's public information officer for emergency management called it "surreal."
Meanwhile, brown rainwaters were flooding homes in low-lying areas of the county and forcing sewage into the San Juan River.
"[The sky] belies really the danger that is coming down the river in historic levels," Neeley says. "We have not seen flooding like this in generations."
Neeley says, emergency responders rescued people on their roofs after floodwater inundated their homes. The county is under an emergency declaration and residents in susceptible areas were told to evacuate Thursday afternoon.
"These are communities that have beautiful riverfront places to live," Neeley says. "And unfortunately, that's a problem today."
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