Rooftop rescues and evacuations as severe flooding soaks Four Corners region

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) – Severe flooding in the Four Corners region Friday led to rescues – some from rooftops – and impassable roads, with some residents informed to evacuate low-lying areas of Colorado and New Mexico and others called on to.

Key points

• Hundreds of individuals along the San Juan River in the biggest city in the area, Farmington, New Mexico, were informed to evacuate.
• As well as your animals, Navajo Nation Deputy Police Chief Donnie Kee called on during a news conference, create your preparations for yourselves, your families.
• Since Wednesday, a total of 4 inches (10 centimeters) had fallen in the already saturated area, with even more rain forecast for the weekend.

For context, the flooding followed two months of heavy rains that concluded a summer drought in the region where the boundaries of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet. Since Wednesday, a total of 4 inches (10 centimeters) had fallen in the already saturated area, with even more rain forecast for the weekend.

Hundreds of individuals along the San Juan River in the biggest city in the area, Farmington, New Mexico, were informed to evacuate. Downstream, residents of the vast Navajo Nation braced for floodwaters not projected to peak until late Friday or early Saturday.

"Do not wait to create your evacuations. As well as your animals, " Navajo Nation Deputy Police Chief Donnie Kee called on during a news conference, create your preparations for yourselves, your families.

Meanwhile, the crisis capped a week of severe weather in which rain swamped dozens of homes in Utah and tornadoes blew off roofs, knocked trees onto houses and downed power lines in Arizona.

Taken together, the developments around rooftop rescues and evacuations as severe flooding soaks Four Corners region point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.