FARMINGTON, NM — The Animas River has breached its banks in Farmington, prompting evacuation orders in parts of San Juan County as nearby rivers continue to rise. San Juan County emergency managers say the flooding threat is now broad enough to affect multiple communities and travel routes.
Flood warnings have been issued for low-lying areas near the Animas, San Juan and La Plata rivers. Officials are also warning drivers to avoid low water crossings, where roads may be unsafe or impassable. McGee Park is open as a shelter for people who need a place to stay while the water remains a concern.
Evacuation zones stretch from Farmington neighborhoods to river corridors
The evacuation list includes areas in Farmington between Cedar Street and Murray Drive, and Broadway Avenue to Auburn Avenue. San Juan County also ordered evacuations for all areas within a half mile of the Animas, La Plata and San Juan rivers.
Other evacuation zones include the San Juan River from Hogback to Four Corners and the stretch from the New Mexico-Colorado state line to the confluence of the Animas and San Juan rivers in Farmington. The orders show how far the flooding concern has spread beyond a single neighborhood and into larger river corridors across the county.
County officials urge drivers to turn around at flooded crossings
San Juan County says there are a number of low water crossings on roads throughout the area, and drivers are being told not to try to push through them. The county’s warning is simple: if a vehicle reaches one of those crossings, turn around instead of attempting to cross.
That advice matters because moving water can hide road damage, depth and strong currents. With river levels still rising, even familiar routes may become dangerous with little notice. Officials have not listed every impacted road, but they are treating the crossings as a hazard across the county rather than a single isolated problem.
Farmington, Bloomfield and Shiprock schools will be closed Monday
Weather conditions tied to the flooding have also led to school closures in Farmington, Bloomfield and Shiprock for Monday. The closures extend the impact of the river rise beyond emergency response and into daily routines for families across the region.
For parents and students, the decision means an altered start to the week while officials monitor conditions. School closures are often one of the earliest signs that local leaders expect travel or infrastructure problems to continue, and in this case the closures add to the list of disruptions already in place.
McGee Park opens for evacuees, pets and livestock
Officials say anyone who needs temporary shelter can go to McGee Park at the San Juan County Fairgrounds. The site is being used as a public shelter for residents who have been ordered to leave their homes or who cannot safely remain in flood-prone areas.
San Juan County has also set up separate options for animals. Livestock can be taken to Cow House/4 Corners Stockyard, while pets have a temporary shelter at 109 East Piñon Street in Farmington. The arrangement is meant to keep people, pets and livestock separated into appropriate locations during the flood response.
Rivers remain the focus as emergency officials watch low-lying areas
The Animas, San Juan and La Plata rivers remain at the center of the county’s response, with emergency managers focused on low-lying areas most vulnerable to water overflows. The warnings suggest officials are expecting conditions to stay unsettled while the rivers keep moving upward.
For now, the priority is keeping people away from the flooded riverbanks, directing evacuees to shelter and limiting traffic through dangerous roads. The county’s notices show a response built around immediate safety, with several parts of daily life already interrupted as flood conditions continue to develop.