💧 90 BILLION GALLONS OF WATER! That’s approximately how much water Lake Powell has gained with a 5-foot rise over the last few days! One major October storm can make a HUGE difference. All that rain and runoff has given Lake Powell a significant boost, adding roughly 275,000 acre-feet of water. But there’s another side to this story. The San Juan River is experiencing dangerous, potentially catastrophic flooding, with major impacts across southeastern Utah. That flooding is a serious threat to communities, roads and property. At the same time, all that water moving through the San Juan River will continue flowing downstream toward Lake Powell, adding even more water to the reservoir as the runoff continues. It’s a reminder of just how powerful these storms can be. We desperately need the water, but flooding like this comes with a devastating cost. Lake Powell is still well below full pool, and we have a long way to go to recover from years of water shortages. We’ll take every drop we can get, but first and foremost, we need everyone in the flooded areas to stay safe. 🙏

🚨 URGENT: BLUFF, UTAH — EVACUATE NOW IF YOU’RE IN THE FLOOD ZONE 🚨 Sunday, October 25 | 8:30 PM Floodwaters are rising rapidly near Bluff, and conditions are changing quickly. Residents south of Highway 191/Main Street, on the river side, are being told to LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. Do not wait. 📍 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: * Evacuation area: South of Highway 191/Main Street, on the river side. * Direction: Head north toward Blanding. * Emergency shelter: San Juan High School, 311 N 100 E, Blanding, Utah. * Road closures: Highway 162 is flooded and closed from Highway 191 to Bluff Bench Road. Roads near Montezuma Creek are also believed to remain closed. ⚠️ If you are outside the immediate evacuation area, do not assume the danger has passed. Town officials are warning that a broader evacuation could become necessary early Monday morning. A continuous siren lasting several minutes, along with a San Juan County emergency alert, would signal a town-wide evacuation. DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH FLOODWATER. Roads can become impassable with little warning. Take your medications, essential belongings, go-bag and pets. Keep your phone charged, enable emergency alerts and follow instructions from emergency personnel. If you have family, friends or neighbors in Bluff, please share this immediately and make sure they know what is happening. Check on others only if you can do so safely. 🚨 Conditions are changing rapidly. Do not wait until the middle of the night to prepare or leave if you are in the evacuation area. YOUR SAFETY COMES FIRST. 📷 Leon Maryboy

🚨🚨 URGENT: CATASTROPHIC FLOODING EXPECTED ALONG THE SAN JUAN RIVER — EVACUATIONS UNDERWAY This is a potentially life-threatening situation across southeastern Utah. The National Weather Service has a FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM MDT TUESDAY, with catastrophic flooding expected along the San Juan River between Four Corners and Mexican Hat. ⚠️ THIS IS A FLOOD EMERGENCY. The river is forecast to rise dramatically, with the crest expected around Aneth, Montezuma Creek and Bluff Sunday afternoon and evening. 📍 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: • The San Juan River near Bluff was at 19.6 feet at 9:30 AM Sunday. • Flood stage is 23 feet. • The river is forecast to crest at 43.6 FEET early Monday morning. • For perspective, the previous record crest was 32 feet in September 1927. The current forecast would exceed that historic level by more than 11 feet. Communities at risk include Bluff, Montezuma Creek, Aneth, Mexican Hat, Halchita and Tselakai Dezza. 🚧 ROAD CLOSURES AND EVACUATIONS The Navajo Department of Emergency Management reports that rising river levels are creating dangerous road conditions, and emergency crews are working to evacuate residents. Current closures include: * Highway 162 east of Montezuma Creek * Aneth Bridge (Texaco Road/Philips Camp Road Bridge) at Milepost 22, westbound * Navajo Route 35 south of Montezuma Creek * An additional closure west of Montezuma Creek may follow a bridge evaluation 🚫 NO DRONES: Drone flights are prohibited over or around the impacted areas because they can interfere with emergency operations. ‼️ PLEASE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. * Follow evacuation orders immediately. * Stay off the roads unless travel is essential. * Never drive or walk through floodwater. * Stay away from riverbanks and flooded bridges. * Keep roads clear for emergency responders. Even without additional rainfall expected, this flood wave will continue moving downstream, and dangerous conditions will persist. A river crest of 43.6 feet would be extraordinary and potentially devastating for communities along the San Juan River. Please share this post to help get the word out. Source: National Weather Service Grand Junction and Navajo Department of Emergency Management.