DENVER (KDVR) — Officials confirmed that two homes are total losses and another 90 are damaged from severe flooding in La Plata County since Saturday, with over 390 homes evacuated to protect residents.
On Monday, the county government said that a respite from the rain on Sunday allowed damage assessment teams from the La Plata County Building Department and Assessor’s Office, with the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, to evaluate the flood area, identifying hazards and getting eyes on the damage to homes. The county said that the two homes deemed total losses were impacted by a creek washing out underneath them.
At a community meeting on Monday, Chief Bruce Evans of the Upper Pine River Fire Protection District said his team completed 11 high-water rescues during the floods, and praised people for following evacuation orders.
“We’re grateful, at this point, nobody has died,” said Chief Bruce Evans of the Upper Pine River Fire Protection District.
Additionally, crews with the Upper Pine River Fire Protection District spent time Sunday securing propane tanks so they don’t wash away, as well as turning off leaking propane tanks that have disconnected from their homes.
La Plata County Sheriff Sean Smith said he’s hopeful residents may be able to return home Tuesday, but said that will depend on the weather.
“We are still in that emergency response phase,” Smith said at Monday’s meeting. “Thank you for your patience.”
La Plata County has seen inches of rain since Friday, caused by tropical storm Priscilla, and more rain is forecasted for the area from tropical storm Raymond through Tuesday morning. The area is forecast to see another 2 to 4 inches of rain by Tuesday morning.
Once the rain finally stops, local leaders are gearing up for repairs. Governor Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency Sunday, unlocking $1 million in emergency funds to support the state’s initial response.
“Our field staff who work in the area have been on site since the flooding was reported,” said Micki Trost, spokesperson for the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. “They are working with county emergency managers to assess the damage and to get resources there to mitigate any future damages.”
The American Red Cross is also assisting those impacted by the flooding, offering residents help with anything from mental health counseling to providing cleaning supplies.
“We are not FEMA. We are not your insurance company,” said Sean Killoy, disaster program manager for the Red Cross of Southwestern Colorado. “But we know these are tough times, and we want to do everything we can to help.”
And some cleanup work has already been completed. The La Plata County Road and Bridge teams have evaluated all county bridges and repaired a hole caused by high water turbulence behind the headwall wingwall on County Road 501 over Vallecito Creek, between Tucker Lane and Mushroom Lane.
The crews said that the turbulence created a void under the bridge that was about eight feet deep, seven feet wide and 16 feet back into the centerline of the road. Crews cut through the pavement to get to the damage and filled it with 14 cubic yards of concrete. The concrete was covered with a tarp and tent, and crews are hoping that the material will set fast enough overnight to allow one-lane traffic on the road on Tuesday.
The La Plata County Government shared images of road and bridge crews repairing a large void caused by turbulent water under a bridge. (Courtesy of the La Plata County Government) 
The La Plata County Government shared images of road and bridge crews repairing a large void caused by turbulent water under a bridge. (Courtesy of the La Plata County Government) 
The La Plata County Government shared images of road and bridge crews repairing a large void caused by turbulent water under a bridge. (Courtesy of the La Plata County Government)
The flood area remains closed to the public. No one is allowed past the intersection of County Road 500 and County Road 501, and 501A is closed at the dam for entry. The county government said that private roads have been made impassable due to the Vallecito Creek and Grimes Creek jumping their banks and re-routing to or through the following roads:
- Ponderosa Homes Road
- Ponderosa Homes Drive
- West Grimes Road
- West Vallecito Creek Road
- River Bed Road
Helicopters are scheduled to fly over the flooded area on Monday and Tuesday, so the Federal Aviation Administration has added a temporary flight restriction to the area. No drones will be allowed to fly from Vallecito Lake dam to the north.
The county has provided a map of the evacuation area and information for evacuees online at readylaplata.org. The emergency call center number is 970-385-8700.
To keep property, residents and the public safe, evacuees and the public are not currently allowed into the evacuated area. Evacuees will be required to have a “rapid tag” identification. County officials say those tags will be available at roadblocks when the evacuation is lifted.
Evacuees can find shelter through the American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming, which is opening two shelters, one located at the Pine River Shares Building at 658 S. East St., Bayfield, and the second at 451 Hot Springs Blvd., Pagosa Springs, which opens at 5 p.m. on Monday.
Additionally, there are reports of minor flooding in other areas of the county. Motorists are cautioned to drive slowly as they may encounter debris and mud throughout the county. The county said that because mud is denser than water, even small amounts can cause a vehicle to slide or get stuck. If water is crossing the roadway, do not drive through it. The water depth can be too great to allow a safe crossing.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
