Edith resident faces $200,000 flood damage after river swallows home

Matthew Martinez returned to his home in Edith on Wednesday to find mud covering every surface. The Navajo River had surged through his property twice in the last two weeks. The second flood hit three days after the first and caused twice as much damage, Martinez said.

The river is about 25 miles south of Pagosa Springs. Martinez has lived in this canyon for nearly 60 years. He said he never saw severe flooding before. Several families who have lived in the same canyon for 100 years report similar damage. Martinez said, 'Nobody expected this.'

Heavy rain from a supercharged El Niño event caused streams to overflow across the Four Corners region. The Navajo, San Juan, and Animas rivers all rose beyond their banks. Recent floods also struck Flagstaff, Arizona; Durango and Pagosa Springs in Colorado; Farmington in New Mexico; Bluff in Utah; and parts of the Navajo Nation.

Martinez estimated his losses at at least $200,000. His barn is damaged, and the river swallowed his corral. One of his horses is missing. His tools washed downstream. He did not have flood insurance because his house sits close to the water.

Martinez was out of town for knee surgery when the first flood hit. He stayed with a son and then in a hotel. Both locations have since flooded. He is now staying in an Airbnb. He worries they could become homeless when his emergency voucher runs out in a few days.

A FEMA representative photographed his property after the first flood. Martinez said he is on a waiting list and will listen for options daily. Hauling debris to the dump costs $300 per load. He does not have easy access to the thousands of dollars needed for cleanup.

The rain ended months of drought in the area. However, the torrents washed away rich topsoil on his land. Only sand and rock remain. Martinez wonders how he will feed his remaining animals without pasture next year. He said, 'The normal might not ever be normal again.'