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.
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 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.
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.
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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, which can be obtained on Monday, Oct. 13, at the Bayfield Intermediate School at 720 E. Oak Dr. from 5:15 p.m. to 6 p.m., before the planned community meeting.
That meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the intermediate school, as well as on Zoom. Details on how to log into the meeting via Zoom are available here, and the meeting will also be streamed on the county government’s Facebook.
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.