Evacuation order issued
Several Navajo Nation communities were ordered to evacuate late Saturday because of possible flooding from the San Juan River. The Salt Lake Tribune reported that the order was issued ahead of water levels expected to set records.
Flooding had already affected parts of the Navajo Nation downstream from Farmington. Water on the roadway closed a two-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 64 west of Shiprock.
Infrastructure hazards remain
Hundreds of homes in the affected region remained evacuated and without electricity Saturday, WTOP reported. Authorities were maintaining evacuation restrictions until officials determined that residents could return safely.
Potential hazards included downed power lines and leaking gas lines. Some routes in Colorado also remained closed, including U.S. 160 northeast of Pagosa Springs, while U.S. 550 between Durango and Ouray reopened once crews addressed water damage.
Officials in Colorado and New Mexico warned people not to fly drones over flooded areas to inspect property or sightsee, saying they could endanger rescue aircraft. They also asked residents to reserve 911 calls for emergencies.
More rain could bring renewed surges
The San Juan River and other waterways had receded from record highs in parts of the region, but additional storms prompted warnings of further surges. Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said the emergency was not over and urged residents to continue monitoring alerts.
More than five inches of rain had fallen in some places over several days. WTOP reported that saturated soils were increasing the likelihood of additional flooding through the weekend.