Colorado Man Faces $200,000 Flood Loss
Repeated surges in the Navajo River destroyed infrastructure in Edith, leaving residents without insurance and facing costly repairs.
By Kofi Costa ·
Matthew Martinez estimates his property damage at $200,000 after the Navajo River surged twice in two weeks. The floods occurred in far southwestern Colorado, roughly 25 miles south of Pagosa Springs. Martinez, 60, has resided in the canyon for nearly his entire life and had never witnessed such severe water levels before this month.
The storm system dumped heavy rain across the Four Corners region, affecting parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. The Navajo, San Juan, and Animas rivers all overflowed their banks. Scientists attribute the intensity of the rainfall to a supercharged El Niño event, a pattern of warm Pacific water that disrupts weather systems. Recent flooding also impacted Flagstaff, Sedona, Tucson, Durango, Farmington, Bluff, and sections of the Navajo Nation.
Martinez was out of town for knee surgery when the first flood hit. He returned on Wednesday to find his house covered in mud and his tools washed downstream. A barn sustained damage, a corral was swallowed by the water, and one horse is missing. He noted that several families who have lived in the canyon for 100 years suffered similar damage.
"We're in trouble, all of us are. Not just me, everybody," Martinez said while standing in his muddy home. He added that no one in the community expected this level of destruction. "Nobody expected this."
The lack of flood coverage is a major financial hurdle for Martinez. Insurers declined to provide coverage for his home because of its proximity to the water. He and his fiancée initially stayed with a son, then moved to a hotel, but both locations subsequently flooded. They are currently staying in an Airbnb. Martinez worries they will become homeless when his emergency housing voucher expires in a few days.
A FEMA representative visited his property after the first surge to take photos. The second flood arrived three days later and was twice as severe, Martinez said. He believes he is on a federal list for aid but is waiting to hear his options. "I know we're on some list right now," he said. "So we'll listen every day and we'll see what options we have and go from there."
Cleanup costs are mounting. Hauling debris to a dump costs $300 per load. Martinez expects the total cost to reach thousands of dollars, a sum he does not readily have. He is considering asking family and friends to help with the work while he heals from his knee surgery. The government spends millions overseas, he noted, but residents need funds locally to rebuild.
The rain ended months of drought in the Four Corners area, but the torrents washed away rich topsoil. The land is now left with sand and rock. Martinez is concerned about how to feed his remaining animals without pasture next year. "The normal might not ever be normal again," he said.
