10/25/2026
EVENING FLOOD UPDATE - Rio Grande County
Saturday, October 24, 2026
While water levels continue to recede in the western portion of Rio Grande county, flooding hazards remain. Roads and bridges may be damaged, riverbanks may be unstable, and conditions can change as floodwaters move downstream. Continue to use extreme caution and stay away from road closures and mandatory evacuation areas.
According to the National Weather Service, rainfall is predicted to reach ¼-¾ inch by midnight tonight, with snow expected in the high country above 9000 ft. There continue to be no known injuries or fatalities, and 80-100 homes have been evacuated in the South Fork area. The National Guard has arrived and is supporting the Southwest Incident Management team and local emergency responders with the response and recovery efforts. Communities can expect to see the National Guard out in the community beginning Sunday morning.
The San Luis Valley Regional Electric Company completed and restored power to all affected members at 4:25pm. Power has been restored to the remaining meters in the lower golf course area, and both the Highland Circuit 2 and South Fork Circuit 4 have returned to normal operations. If you are still experiencing an outage, please call 719-852-3538. The REC would like to thank you for your continued patience and understanding as their crews worked to safely complete these repairs!
Drinking water remains available at the South Fork Community Building for residents that have a well that may have been contaminated from the flooding.
Evacuations remain in place in all designated areas. Please do not return home until the mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted. Damage assessments teams will begin to assess the damage as soon as emergency crews have ensured it is safe to do so.
To ensure the safety of the community and first responders, please avoid affected roads and bridges, including gathering on roadways or bridges. Keeping these areas clear ensures emergency responders can reach those who need help quickly and safely. Stay clear of rivers and moving water, including recreational activities and areas. In Del Norte, we ask that you stay away from the river walk and “fun wave” area. Please help keep our community safe.
We also ask that private citizens avoid individual attempts to move or redirect water, or create barriers to individual properties in affected areas, as this may inadvertently make safety, flooding, or damage worse for others in your area. Please defer to local officials on property cleanup and protection efforts.
EVACUATION: South Fork CO - Flood Evacuation Zone 10-2026 - Google My Maps
Evacuations remain in place for the following areas with no current timeframes for re-entry:
South Fork of the Rio Grande: From the Wolf Creek Tunnel to Fun Valley and from County Road 20 to the confluence with the Rio Grande River along the river.
Rio Grande River: From the confluence at the River Green subdivision to the Shaw Creek Rest Area along the river.
Beaver Mountain Estates Residents are to shelter in place or evacuate via Skyline Drive North past the forest gate, and follow until you reach Park Drive and follow downhill past South Fork Fire Rescue on Mall Street.
Riverbend is to shelter in place or evacuate. If you leave you will not be able to get access beyond the highway closure.
EVACUATION CENTER
South Fork Community Building
254 CO 149, South Fork Colorado
CURRENT ROAD CLOSURES
Highway 160 over Wolf Creek Pass.
Rio Grande County Road 18 Bridge to County Road 15
Escondida Bridge over South Fork of the Rio Grande
Highway 112 Del Norte to Center
Highway 285 Monte Vista to Center Junction
The Park Creek road has significant damage and heavy snow in the area and is not safe to travel on due to heavy erosion. It is closed at Forrest Service road 380 in Summitville and is inaccessible at the Park Creek bridge due to being washed out
Park Creek is closed at Summitville and 380 due to erosion
In Del Norte, local street closures include 3rd Street from Spruce to Hermosa; Spruce from 2nd to Front Street; First Street from Oak to Pine Street; Front Street from Spruce to Pine Street; and 3rd and Cherry Street to Second Street
FLOOD SAFETY
Residents and visitors are urged to use extreme caution when traveling. Floodwaters can quickly cover roadways and may conceal washed-out pavement, damaged shoulders, debris, or other hazards.
Never drive through flooded roads, standing water, or around barricades. The depth of the water and the condition of the roadway beneath it may be unknown.
Avoid unnecessary travel in affected areas and allow emergency personnel and road crews the space they need to work safely.
TRAFFIC, SPECTATING, AND RECREATION
Please help keep our community safe. Stay off affected roads and bridges and avoid unnecessary travel. Do not stop or gather on roadways or bridges. Keeping these areas clear ensures emergency responders can reach those who need help quickly and safely. Stay clear of rivers and moving water, including recreational activities and areas. In Del Norte, we ask that you stay away from the river walk and “fun wave” area.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Keep a ready-to-go emergency bag in an easy-to-reach location and make sure every household member knows where it is. Consider including prescription medications, phone chargers and power banks, copies of important documents, warm clothing, blankets, sturdy footwear, essential hygiene and comfort items, and supplies for pets.
Continue monitoring weather forecasts and warnings. Severe weather and flooding can cause power outages, hazardous travel, and disruptions to essential services. Residents are encouraged to prepare now, stay informed, and take warnings seriously.
CLEAN DRINKING WATER DURING AND AFTER FLOODING
Drinking water remains available at South Fork Community Building for those on a well or are concerned about drinking water.
The Town of South Fork water system has been tested and no known concerns are identified at this time. Routine testing will continue.
Follow local utility and public-health notices. If officials issue a boil-water, do-not-drink, or do-not-use order, follow that order exactly
Use bottled or properly treated water for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and preparing infant formula.
Bring clear water to a rolling boil for 3 minutes, then cool naturally and store it in clean, covered containers.
Do not drink or wash with water from a flooded private well until the well has been inspected, disinfected, tested, and declared safe.
If water smells like fuel or chemicals, has an oily sheen, or may contain chemical contamination, do not boil or use it. Use bottled water and contact local public-health authorities.
DRONE USE
While there are no temporary flight restrictions at this time, we are asking that private drone activity be halted to ensure emergency air operations can remain intact.
EMERGENCY CALLS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION
If you are experiencing an emergency or need immediate assistance, CALL 911.
The public information line is for general incident information only. Do not use the information line to report emergencies or request emergency assistance.
VOLUNTEERS AND DONATIONS
Thank you to our community for offering donations and volunteer support. At this time we are not in need of any donations or volunteer support. If this changes, we will post information to social media and news outlets.
STAY INFORMED
Information Line: 719-873-1030 ext 1
For highway closure information: www.cotrip.org
For information on clean drinking water: www.riograndecounty.colorado.gov/departments/public-health
Please continue monitoring official sources for the latest information.
The next update will be published Sunday morning, October 25, unless significant changes or events overnight require an earlier update.
Photo: Fun Valley, 10.24.26
