Colorado rancher faces $200,000 bill after double flood destroys home

Matthew Martinez estimated at least $200,000 in damage to his home and outbuildings in Edith, Colorado, after the Navajo River surged through his property twice in a span of two weeks. The 60-year-old rancher, who lives in a canyon about 25 miles south of Pagosa Springs, returned to find his barn damaged, a corral washed away, and a horse missing. Mud covered the interior of his house, and his tools were swept downstream.

Martinez lacks flood insurance because insurers declined to cover a residence located so close to the water. He stated that several families with over 100 years of history in the same canyon suffered similar destruction. "We’re in trouble, all of us are. Not just me, everybody," he said. "Nobody expected this."

The flooding followed a series of storms that dumped heavy rain across the Four Corners region of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. Scientists attributed the increased intensity of the rainfall to a strong El Niño event, which disrupts weather patterns by shifting warm water in the Pacific. Recent storms have also affected Flagstaff, Sedona, and Tucson in Arizona; Durango in Colorado; Farmington in New Mexico; and Bluff in Utah.

Martinez was away from home for knee surgery when the first flood struck. He returned on Wednesday, driving a four-wheel drive vehicle over gravel roads to reach his muddied property. A FEMA representative visited his site after the initial flooding and took photographs. The second flood hit three days later and was twice as severe, Martinez said.

He and his fiancée initially stayed with one of his sons, then moved to a hotel after both locations flooded. They are currently residing in an Airbnb, but Martinez worries about housing costs when his emergency voucher expires in a few days. He questioned the allocation of government funds, noting that while millions go to overseas projects, local residents need resources to rebuild. "Right now we need that money on this side," he said.

Martinez is currently considering asking family and friends for help with cleanup as he recovers from surgery. He noted that hauling debris to the dump costs $300 per load, a price that could total thousands of dollars he does not have readily available. He is also concerned about the long-term impact on his livestock, as the flood washed away rich topsoil, leaving only sand and rock on his land.

The rainfall ended months of drought in the Four Corners area, but the loss of topsoil raises questions about how Martinez will feed his remaining animals next year without pasture. He said he is waiting for communication from federal agencies to determine his next steps. "I know we’re on some list right now," Martinez said. "So we’ll listen every day and we’ll see what options we have and go from there."

The weather has cleared, allowing some evacuees to return to their homes. Martinez plans to assess his options daily as he manages the financial and physical aftermath of the floods. He remains in the Airbnb while his knee heals, keeping a close watch on the status of his insurance claims and potential government assistance.