Floodwaters Leave $20 Trillion Gallon Debt in Southwest Communities

More than 20 trillion gallons of rain fell across the Four Corners states and Nevada in the two weeks leading up to Tuesday, according to calculations by Ryan Maue, a former chief scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The precipitation transformed communities in the U.S. Southwest into muddy lakes, forcing residents to assess the financial and structural damage to homes and businesses as cleanup efforts began on Tuesday.

Jack Ellis, a retired school teacher in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, observed the debris along the San Juan River. The town experienced two distinct waves of severe flooding in recent weeks. Ellis noted that the destruction was concentrated in low-lying areas, describing the situation as a disaster for everyone in those zones.

Ellis stated that residents must dig in and dig out, emphasizing the labor-intensive nature of the recovery. He expressed hope that the federal government would provide assistance, noting that the town is a blue state but that all taxpayers contribute to national relief efforts during times of crisis.

In Durango, approximately 60 miles west of Pagosa Springs, Willow Bradner found her ranch-style home surrounded by two feet of mud. Junction Creek overflowed, sending nearly five feet of water into the property. Bradner described the basement, a key feature when she purchased the home in 2024, as becoming a soup bowl.

Bradner operates a small custom closet and storage business with her husband. She said the couple was informed they were outside the designated flood zone when they inquired about insurance. Although they have temporary housing for the rest of the year and volunteer help, the loss of their primary asset and savings is overwhelming.

Bradner said the majority of their savings is tied up in the house. She stated that they must dig deep and rebuild to recover from the loss.

Officials in San Juan County, New Mexico, reported that the San Juan, Animas, and La Plata rivers have all crested. The agency posted online on Tuesday that while no rivers are below flood stage, the water will continue to recede over the next 24 to 48 hours.

Swift-water rescue teams remained active on Tuesday as skies cleared. One person died in the floodwaters, and police suspect a second death was weather-related. Hundreds of evacuees began returning to their homes.

Local officials in Colorado and Utah implemented alternative Election Day voting plans due to the flooding. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an emergency declaration after downpours swamped parts of the state, leading to polling place changes in at least eight counties.