San Juan County flooding proves riverfront living is a gamble
By Daniel Okafor · Reporting from New York ·
Residents in San Juan County who refuse to evacuate force rescue crews to pull people from rooftops, draining emergency resources and gambling with the lives sent to save them.
Residents who refuse to leave their homes in San Juan County are wrong. They treat a state of emergency as a suggestion. This choice puts rescue crews in danger. KOB 4 said crews had to pull people from rooftops. Police Chief Steve Hebbe said the flooding is "singular and this is real." He warned that this is not something that should be played with.
The mechanism of the river
The water follows a known path. The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 shares the same mechanism as this disaster. In both cases, river systems exceed their capacity during rare, high-volume events. This forces residents from low-lying riverfront properties. NPR said brown rainwaters flooded homes in low-lying areas. Devin Neeley said riverfront places to live are "a problem today." The San Juan and Animas rivers are not expected to crest until late Friday night or early Saturday morning.
What is the cost of staying?
The flood does more than soak carpets. KOAT said floodwaters impacted the Bloomfield sewage treatment plant. The water may contain raw sewage. This contamination creates a public health crisis. KOB 4 said San Juan County experienced over 3,000 electrical outages. Only around 30 people have been evacuated so far.
The crisis spans state lines
In Colorado, Governor Jared Polis declared disaster emergencies for 11 counties. Evacuations remain in place for Pagosa Springs. Residents in areas like Railroad and Pryor Lane were told to leave. Those who stayed now rely on the American Red Cross for feeding and shelter at McGee Park.
The cost of a river view is the risk of the flood. Authorities said that people who stay are "putting a drain on resources." They trade the safety of the community for the hope that the water stops. The river does not negotiate. When the water rises to historic levels, the only rational move is to leave. Those who stay do not just risk their own lives. They gamble with the lives of the people sent to save them.