By Fatma Younis
Matthew Martinez, a 60-year-old resident of a canyon along the Navajo River in southwestern Colorado, has seen his lifelong home devastated by two severe floods within two weeks, leaving him uninsured and facing potential homelessness.
Repeated Flooding Devastates Home
The floods, part of a series of storms driven by a supercharged El Niño, caused the Navajo, San Juan, and Animas rivers to overflow across the Four Corners region, affecting communities in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.
Martinez's property suffered extensive damage: his barn and corral were destroyed, a horse is missing, tools washed away, and the house is filled with mud. He estimates losses of at least $200,000.
Insurance Gap and Financial Ruin
Because his home sits close to the river, Martinez could not obtain flood insurance. After the first flood, he and his fiancée stayed with a son and then a hotel, but both locations subsequently flooded. They are now in an Airbnb, but their emergency voucher expires in days.
FEMA Response and Uncertain Future
A FEMA representative assessed the property after the initial flood, but a second, more severe flood struck three days later. Martinez says he is on a FEMA assistance list but remains uncertain about the timeline for aid.
Environmental Impact and Long-Term Concerns
Cleanup costs are prohibitive; hauling debris to the dump runs $300 per load, totaling thousands he cannot afford. The floods also stripped rich topsoil from his land, leaving only sand and rock, jeopardizing his ability to feed his remaining livestock next year.
"The normal might not ever be normal again," Martinez said, reflecting on the long-term impact on his family and the multi-generational community in the canyon.
