Martinez faces $200,000 loss after double flooding

Matthew Martinez returned to his property in Edith, Colorado, on Wednesday to assess the damage from two severe flood events that struck his home within the last two weeks. The 60-year-old rancher, who was out of town for knee surgery when the first surge occurred, found his house covered in mud and his barn damaged. The river also swallowed a corral and washed his tools downstream. One of his horses is missing. Martinez estimates his losses at a minimum of $200,000.

Martinez lives in a canyon on the Navajo River, approximately 25 miles south of Pagosa Springs. He stated that several families in the same canyon, some of whom have lived there for 100 years, suffered similar damage. "We're in trouble, all of us are. Not just me, everybody," he said during his first visit back. He noted that nobody expected the severity of the event. The Navajo, San Juan, and Animas rivers surged beyond their banks as repeated storms dumped heavy rain across the Four Corners region. Scientists attribute the increased likelihood and intensity of these rains to a supercharged El Niño event, which disrupts weather patterns with warm Pacific water.

The recent storms affected multiple locations, including Flagstaff and Sedona in Arizona, Durango and Pagosa Springs in Colorado, Farmington in New Mexico, and Bluff in Utah. Parts of the Navajo Nation also experienced flooding. With a break in the weather, evacuees are now returning to their homes. Martinez had to drive a four-wheel drive vehicle over beaten gravel roads to reach his property. He and his fiancee are currently staying in an Airbnb after their previous temporary housing, including a son's home and a hotel, also flooded.

Martinez does not carry flood insurance because his house is located too close to the water. He is concerned about his financial stability as his emergency voucher expires in a few days. "The government spends, you know, just millions and billions of money on overseas and everything. Right now we need that money on this side," he said. A FEMA representative photographed his property after the first flood. The second flood, which hit three days later, was twice as bad. Martinez said he is on a list and will listen for updates on his options.

The cleanup process presents additional financial challenges. Hauling debris to the dump costs $300 per load, a sum that totals thousands of dollars Martinez does not readily have. He is considering whether to ask family and friends for help with the cleanup while he heals from his surgery. The flooding ended months of drought in the Four Corners area but washed away rich topsoil on his land, leaving only sand and rock. He is now uncertain how he will feed his remaining animals without pasture next year. "The normal might not ever be normal again," Martinez said.