Morning update: Rio Grande and Mineral counties
Monday, November 2, 2026
Heavy rains caused evacuations in South Fork, Del Norte, and Monte Vista on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Preventive evacuation warnings were issued for these areas at 10:00 a.m., followed by mandatory evacuation orders at 5:00 p.m. As of Monday morning, five people were reported missing.
The agencies that assisted in the evacuation of 2,773 people include the offices of the sheriff in Rio Grande and Mineral counties; the police departments in South Fork, Del Norte, and Monte Vista; the Colorado State Patrol; the South Fork, Del Norte, and Monte Vista fire departments; and members of the National Guard assigned to this area.
Dangerous road conditions have forced the closure of several routes, including US 160. Check cotrip.org for updates on closures. The area’s bridges are being monitored due to the rising water levels. As of Monday morning, the Escondida bridge remains closed and impassable. All dams in the area are stable and functioning as expected.
Lower temperatures are expected tonight, which could cause ice formation on the roads due to the large amount of water accumulated from the floods. Please exercise extreme caution if you need to drive.
A hotline for inquiries related to the floods and evacuations has been set up: 719-873-1030, extension 1.
If you do not have means to reach a evacuation shelter, or if you need help to evacuate due to medical or accessibility reasons, call 719-657-4221 to request assistance.
Check the Rio Grande County website (https://riograndecounty.colorado.gov) for an interactive map (search function) of evacuation zones and get more information about the floods.
There are shelters available in the area for anyone in need. As of Monday morning, five people were at the South Fork shelter. On our website, you will find a list of available shelters in the area: https://riograndecounty.colorado.gov/evacuation-shelters
If staying at a shelter does not meet your needs, call 2-1-1: https://www.211colorado.org/
If necessary, there are shelters available for large animals; call Larry Brown at 719-850-2139.