Colorado State of Emergency Declared Due to Flash Floods
Colorado Governor Jared Polis has declared a state of emergency for counties impacted by flash floods in the southwestern part of the state.
Tropical Storm Priscilla brought heavy rain, dropping 4 to 6 inches of water on Archuleta and La Plata counties, causing unprecedented flooding.
There's entire trees going down. I mean, you can hear it from miles away, the impact of this,” said Gabe Priestly, a Pagosa Springs Downtown resident.
- The San Juan River overflowed, flooding downtown Pagosa Springs and prompting evacuations.
- Businesses and hotel resorts were flooded with water, causing damage and disruption.
Despite the gradual rise of the river, the floods took the town by surprise, with Priestly stating,
“We saw it in the morning, and then somebody said, ‘You better go check out the river.’ Just a few hours later,”and by then, the river had risen significantly, causing damage.
Author's summary: Colorado declares state of emergency due to flash floods.