San Juan County officials lifted evacuation orders along the county’s three rivers after the latest round of flooding, allowing residents to return to their properties. While many found their homes intact, a number of families discovered severe damage or total loss.
Emergency officials caution about lingering dangers
Devin Neeley, the county’s Emergency Management public information officer, reminded returning residents that hidden hazards remain. “Obviously, there are going to be some hidden dangers. There’s going to be standing water in some places, water across the road,” Neeley said.
He added that electricity has been largely restored to customer meters, but residents should have a licensed electrician inspect their homes before using power.
Crisis‑cleanup assistance available
For those facing extensive damage, the county has set up a crisis‑cleanup line to field calls and coordinate help. “First and foremost is crisis cleanup. Over the next couple of days, the crisis cleanup line is going to be taking calls from people who need help cleaning up,” Neeley explained.
One family’s heartbreaking story
Among those affected is Madison Abila, an eight‑month‑pregnant mother who has now lost her home for the second time in six years. Abila recalled the frantic evacuation: “We went back to the house to save the five cats, and I grabbed the safe that had the kids’ birth certificates, and we left. By morning it was under water,” she said.
Abila’s first loss came in 2020 when a house fire destroyed her family’s home while she was pregnant with her first son. She moved into a trailer a week later, determined to keep her family together. “I was 20 years old when the house fire happened, and I was pregnant with our first son, and we had moved into that trailer a week after it happened, because I was just so determined to not be anywhere else but at home, our home,” she recalled.
Now, eight months into her second pregnancy, Abila faces another devastating setback. “There’s still nights that I cry awake and I think of things that can be replaced. But you have to keep going. Life doesn’t stop,” she said.
She described the emotional toll: “Now I’m terrified of it. I thought that this pregnancy was going to be a peaceful, happy time, and it’s just been nerve‑wracking the entire time,” Abila added.
Community support offers hope
Despite the challenges, Abila said the outpouring of community support is helping her family take the first steps toward recovery. “Time is what it’s going to take to get through it,” she said.
County officials continue to assess damage, clear debris, and coordinate assistance for all affected residents. They urge anyone who returns to their property to remain vigilant for standing water, weakened structures, and other safety concerns.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
