Bluff ordered to evacuate as San Juan River floodwater reaches the town

San Juan County ordered residents of Bluff on the south side of Highway 191 and Main Street, the river side, to leave on Sunday evening as floodwater from the San Juan River reached the town, according to the county's emergency message as reported by Gephardt Daily, FOX 13 and ABC4. Residents were told to head north toward Blanding. ^[1][3][4]

Evacuations had also been ordered for Montezuma Creek and Aneth, KUTV reported, as forecasters warned of potentially catastrophic flooding along the river. Heavy rain across the Four Corners region sent the river to nearly century-high levels, flooding roads and forcing families from their homes. The flood warnings are expected to remain in effect through Tuesday morning. ^[2] The U.S. Geological Survey's gauge on the San Juan River near Bluff read about 19,000 cubic feet per second Sunday evening, then rose to a provisional peak of about 41,600 cubic feet per second, a stage of 26.2 feet, at 10:30 a.m. Monday. ^[5]

Highway 162 is flooded and closed from Highway 191 to Bluff Bench Road, and roads near Montezuma Creek are believed to remain closed, FOX 13 reported. The county said a continuous siren lasting several minutes and an emergency alert would signal a town-wide evacuation, and asked hotel guests and businesses to leave early rather than risk leaving overnight. ^[1][3]

The American Red Cross opened a shelter at San Juan High School, 311 N. 100 East in Blanding, KUTV and Gephardt Daily reported. FOX 13 reported a shelter at Aneth Community School, at Highway 162 and San Juan County Road 466. ^[1][2][3]

Larena Benn, who lives just outside Bluff on the Navajo Nation, told FOX 13 that water covered her neighborhood and that eight families, many of them relatives, were displaced. Red Cross volunteers have also been helping in Hurricane, where floods last week damaged more than a hundred homes, KUTV reported. ^[1][2]