New Mexico seeks $13.8M in federal flood aid as Utah towns evacuate

The forecast: The National Weather Service in Grand Junction, Colo., called it "an emergency situation" Sunday afternoon, warning of catastrophic flooding on the San Juan between Four Corners and Mexican Hat. At 2:04 p.m. the river near Bluff stood at 20 feet. Forecasters expected it to pass the 23-foot flood stage Sunday afternoon and crest at 29.5 feet early Monday, then fall below flood stage early Tuesday. The record there is 32.0 feet, set Sept. 10, 1927. The flood warning runs until 6 a.m. Tuesday. Road closures in the area include the Montezuma Creek Bridge, Highway 162 east of Montezuma Creek and Navajo Route 35, KSL reported.

New Mexico: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Saturday requested a federal emergency declaration for San Juan County and surrounding areas, which her office said would unlock at least $13.8 million for debris removal and emergency protective measures, KOB reported. The request also covers Rio Arriba, Cibola and Sandoval counties and several tribal nations and pueblos. "Families in Farmington and Bloomfield need help today, and I implore President Trump to send help immediately," she said. She plans to visit San Juan County on Monday with the head of the New Mexico National Guard. As of 10 a.m. Sunday, the San Juan at Farmington had crested and dropped below major flood stage, while the river at Shiprock was still in major flood stage, KOAT reported.

Not safe to go home yet: Evacuated areas in San Juan County, N.M., remain closed, and officials said power, gas, sewer and water lines there are shut off or unsecured. They told people to stay out of the water and mud because they are contaminated with raw sewage, KOAT reported. Navajo Nation police said sewage plants in Bloomfield, Farmington and Shiprock were hit and sewage got into the river, the Navajo Times reported; San Juan County officials said the county's systems were working again Saturday night. Crews spent Sunday searching evacuated neighborhoods for dead animals, downed power lines and other hazards left by the flood and at least one tornado, and the weather service issued a new flood watch for much of the Four Corners as more showers moved in, AP reported.

One upside: The runoff is reaching Lake Powell, the nation's second-largest reservoir. Its level has risen more than 10 feet from this year's low of 3,519.1 feet to 3,529.4 feet, the weather service in Salt Lake City said, according to KUTV. Full pool is 3,700 feet, so the lake remains far below capacity.

Where things stand: Colorado's flood disaster emergency covers 12 southwest counties, with 100 Colorado National Guard members deployed, KKTV reported Saturday. About 58 New Mexico Guard members deployed to San Juan County on Friday and Saturday, KOB reported. Records set this week include the San Juan at Shiprock (21.2 feet Saturday morning) and the Animas River at Farmington, which topped its 1941 record, according to weather service statements.

What's still unknown: How high the San Juan actually gets near Bluff and Mexican Hat overnight, how many homes were damaged across the three states, whether the federal government approves New Mexico's request (no federal response had been reported as of Sunday evening), and how long the sewage contamination lasts.

Updated Sunday evening, Oct. 25, with the evacuation of Navajo Nation communities in southeast Utah, the National Weather Service's Sunday afternoon forecast for the San Juan near Bluff, New Mexico's federal emergency declaration request and Sunday readings from San Juan County. Earlier versions covered Friday's rescues, Saturday's record river readings and Colorado's 12-county emergency. Evacuee counts are officials' estimates. We have not seen any report of deaths from this flooding as of Sunday evening. River levels change hourly; readings are as of the times shown.