LA PLATA COUNTY — Flooding brought on by heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Priscilla is damaging homes and prompting evacuations in southwest Colorado.

The Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management Monday afternoon issued a flood warning for the county until 3 p.m. Wednesday.

A local disaster was declared in unincorporated La Plata County Saturday after hundreds of homes north of Vallecito Lake were evacuated due to flooding.

On Sunday, Gov. Jared Polis issued a verbal disaster emergency declaration to aid response and recovery efforts after the floods, according to a release from his office.

Vallecito Creek and Grimes Creek — both of which feed into Vallecito Lake — breached their banks Saturday morning, leading to the evacuation of more than 390 homes, according to La Plata County spokesperson Sarah Jacobson. The Upper Pine River Fire Protection District reported levee breaches on the west side of Vallecito Creek earlier in the day.

Vallecito Creek and Grimes Creek have had “unprecedented” flooding with a high of 7,200 cubic feet per second captured for Vallecito Creek, Jacobson said, which is more than double what a significant spring runoff event would produce.

Downtown Pagosa Springs had to be evacuated Sunday morning, but residents were allowed to return Monday.

“The Pagosa Springs Police Department is requesting the public to use caution when accessing any parks near the river,” according to a PSPD Facebook post Monday. “It may be necessary to close these areas due to flooding.”

Colorado Highway 160 over Wolf Creek Pass closed Sunday but re-opened Monday. Authorities warned it might have to close again.

“Road closures may be necessary on Highway 160 at 1st Street and other low lying areas,” according to the PSPD post.

The Pagosa Springs Community Center is operating as an emergency shelter.

“The rivers are rising and could affect property and structures,” according to the ACSO Facebook post. “Be aware of your surroundings and rock and mud slides. A weather warning indicates a confirmed, current and present danger to this area. Take necessary safety precautions. All low lying areas near rivers and water courses are in a pre evacuation status.”

The mayor and town manager of Pagosa Springs declared a local disaster emergency that went into effect at 7:50 p.m. Saturday. It is expected to remain in effect for seven days.

At 3 p.m. Sunday, Interim La Plata County Manager Kevin Hall signed a declaration of local disaster to access additional funds and resources to tackle the floods there. Hall is recommending that the state of local disaster continue for at least seven days, according to a release from the county. The board of county commissioners will consider the recommendations on Tuesday.

Residents of the La Plata County area can find information about evacuations here. 

“This has not happened in the 25 years I’ve worked for the county,” La Plata County spokesperson Sarah Jacobson told 9NEWS. 

According to her, 37 people were at the evacuation center. More than 100 homes have water damage, some with as much as two feet of water inside.

The floods did not damage any critical infrastructure, according to Jacobson, but a CenturyLink line shutoff caused some people east of Vallecito Lake to lose their phone service.

Drivers are asked to travel slowly and carefully due to debris and mud on the roads. People should also avoid driving into areas where water is covering the roadway.

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