Flooding forces evacuations in Southwest and alters voting in Colorado town

Flash flooding across the Southwest has forced mandatory evacuations and disrupted in-person voting the day before the midterm election, ABC News reported Monday ¹. The flooding hit parts of New Mexico, Colorado and Utah in the Four Corners region and northern and central Arizona after heavy weekend rainfall ¹.

In Colorado, the secretary of state's office set up alternative voting plans for residents of Pagosa Springs, a town of more than 2,000 near ski resorts and known for its hot springs ¹. The National Weather Service said the San Juan River started to recede late Sunday night after reaching 16.81 feet ¹.

The sheriff's office had warned that most of the town was wiped out by a 1911 flood that crested at approximately 17.8 feet ¹. Officials had warned of "potentially catastrophic" flooding in Pagosa Springs ¹.

Pagosa Springs residents who have not voted yet can "visit any voter center across the state to request and receive a replacement ballot," the secretary of state's office said in a news release ¹. Those who cast in-person ballots outside their home county can only vote for statewide races, the office said ¹.

If residents have access to their mail ballot, they can return it to any drop box or voter center in the state by 7 p.m. on Election Day, and it will make it back to their county clerk for signature verification and tabulation, the office said ¹. Voting centers will still be open in La Plata County, but some county offices, including the clerk's office, will have special hours on Tuesday ¹.

All La Plata County roads remained closed Monday because of widespread flooding and damage to bridges ¹. Evacuees included some residents along the rising Animas River in southwestern Colorado ¹.

Katie German, owner and chef of Bruin Coffee in Pagosa Springs, said Sunday that downtown had been evacuated and that there was street flooding ¹. She said she was most worried about the one bridge into town washing out, preventing trucks carrying everything from food to fuel from getting in ¹.

In New Mexico, the San Juan River was still rising Monday, and new evacuations were ordered for some residents in San Juan County, including some Navajo communities ¹. Others were evacuated from Rio Arriba County, where the Rio Chama was under a flood warning through Tuesday ¹.

In Arizona, officials in Sedona ordered residents near Oak Creek to leave Sunday as floodwaters trapped multiple people in their homes ¹. Yavapai County and the community of Camp Verde ordered evacuations near swollen rivers and creeks, and Gila County ordered the total evacuation of Gisela, a community of several hundred along Tonto Creek ¹.

David Byers, a meteorologist with the weather service office in Grand Junction, Colorado, said Monday: "Most of the rain is winding down" ¹. The next few days look drier ¹.

The flooding is a fresh test of how election officials handle last-minute emergencies. Colorado's plan lets displaced voters request a replacement ballot at any voter center in the state, but those who vote in person outside their home county can only weigh in on statewide races ¹. That matters because the midterm election is Tuesday, and residents in flood-hit areas have one day to make other arrangements.

The Record

1. Nov 1, 2026Officials ordered residents near Oak Creek in Sedona, Arizona, to leave as floodwaters trapped multiple people in their homes ¹.
2. Nov 2, 2026The Colorado secretary of state's office set up alternative voting plans for Pagosa Springs residents after flooding ¹.
3. Nov 2, 2026All La Plata County roads remained closed because of widespread flooding and damage to bridges ¹.

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<h2>Flooding forces evacuations in Southwest and alters voting in Colorado town</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Campaign Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/flooding-forces-evacuations-in-southwest-and-alters-voting-in-colorado-town">The GOP Files</a> on Monday, November 2, 2026.</em></p> <p>Flash flooding across the Southwest has forced mandatory evacuations and disrupted in-person voting the day before the midterm election, ABC News reported Monday . The flooding hit parts of New Mexico, Colorado and Utah in the Four Corners region and northern and central Arizona after heavy weekend rainfall .</p> <p>In Colorado, the secretary of state&#39;s office set up alternative voting plans for residents of Pagosa Springs, a town of more than 2,000 near ski resorts and known for its hot springs . The National Weather Service said the San Juan River started to recede late Sunday night after reaching 16.81 feet .</p> <p>The sheriff&#39;s office had warned that most of the town was wiped out by a 1911 flood that crested at approximately 17.8 feet . Officials had warned of &quot;potentially catastrophic&quot; flooding in Pagosa Springs .</p> <p>Pagosa Springs residents who have not voted yet can &quot;visit any voter center across the state to request and receive a replacement ballot,&quot; the secretary of state&#39;s office said in a news release . Those who cast in-person ballots outside their home county can only vote for statewide races, the office said .</p> <p>If residents have access to their mail ballot, they can return it to any drop box or voter center in the state by 7 p.m. on Election Day, and it will make it back to their county clerk for signature verification and tabulation, the office said . Voting centers will still be open in La Plata County, but some county offices, including the clerk&#39;s office, will have special hours on Tuesday .</p> <p>All La Plata County roads remained closed Monday because of widespread flooding and damage to bridges . Evacuees included some residents along the rising Animas River in southwestern Colorado .</p> <p>Katie German, owner and chef of Bruin Coffee in Pagosa Springs, said Sunday that downtown had been evacuated and that there was street flooding . She said she was most worried about the one bridge into town washing out, preventing trucks carrying everything from food to fuel from getting in .</p> <p>In New Mexico, the San Juan River was still rising Monday, and new evacuations were ordered for some residents in San Juan County, including some Navajo communities . Others were evacuated from Rio Arriba County, where the Rio Chama was under a flood warning through Tuesday .</p> <p>In Arizona, officials in Sedona ordered residents near Oak Creek to leave Sunday as floodwaters trapped multiple people in their homes . Yavapai County and the community of Camp Verde ordered evacuations near swollen rivers and creeks, and Gila County ordered the total evacuation of Gisela, a community of several hundred along Tonto Creek .</p> <p>David Byers, a meteorologist with the weather service office in Grand Junction, Colorado, said Monday: &quot;Most of the rain is winding down&quot; . The next few days look drier .</p> <p>The flooding is a fresh test of how election officials handle last-minute emergencies. Colorado&#39;s plan lets displaced voters request a replacement ballot at any voter center in the state, but those who vote in person outside their home county can only weigh in on statewide races . That matters because the midterm election is Tuesday, and residents in flood-hit areas have one day to make other arrangements.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/flooding-forces-evacuations-in-southwest-and-alters-voting-in-colorado-town">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/flooding-forces-evacuations-in-southwest-and-alters-voting-in-colorado-town.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. ABC News, “Floodwaters swamp Southwest, forcing evacuations, altering some Election Day voting” (2026-11-02). abcnews.com/US/wireStory/floodwaters-swamp-southwest-forcing
2. The Hill, “The 5 storylines to watch on Election Day” (2026-11-02). thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6184968-midterm-elections-trum

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