Flood guide · Southwest Colorado floods, November 1, 2026
Pagosa Springs Flood Damage: What Your Home Insurance Covers and What Can Help
The San Juan River crested at 16.81 feet in Pagosa Springs on November 1, 2026, almost two feet higher than the October 23 flood. For some homes along the river, it was the second flood in nine days. Colorado's insurance regulator says a homeowners policy is unlikely to cover flood damage. That still leaves options, and the records you keep this week decide how much help you can reach.
Flood at a glance
Sunday, November 1, 2026
Where
- Pagosa Springs
- Archuleta
- La Plata
- Rio Grande
Official updates
Office of the Governor
River crested at 16.81 feet (Nov 3)
Office of the Governor
Major disaster declaration requested Oct 31
Town of Pagosa Springs
Mandatory evacuations still in place (Nov 3)
First call for insurance help
303-894-7490
Colorado Division of Insurance, consumer services
No flood policy? What can still help
Insurance you may already have
- Your homeowners policy, for damage the river didn't cause, such as a tree on the roof, wind damage or a fire
- Comprehensive cover on your car insurance, if a vehicle went under
- A flood policy your mortgage lender required, which can be easy to forget
Help beyond insurance
- FEMA help for households, but only if a federal declaration adds it for your county
- Low-interest SBA disaster loans for homeowners in a declared disaster area
- A federal tax deduction for uninsured losses, if the disaster is federally declared
- Volunteer cleanup crews and shelter help through local hotlines and 211
Have a flood policy? Start the claim today. A signed, sworn proof of loss is due within 60 days: by December 22, 2026 for the October 23 flood, and by December 31, 2026 for the November 1 flood.
5 first steps after the flood
- 1Go back only once your street is clearedSome homes on Hermosa and San Juan streets were still under evacuation orders on November 3. Wastewater also reached the river, so treat floodwater and mud as contaminated.
- 2Record the damage before you cleanShoot photos and video of the high-water mark, each room and every ruined item. If water came in on October 23 and again on November 1, keep the two sets apart and dated.
- 3Report your damage to the countyArchuleta and La Plata counties both collect damage reports online through Crisis Track. It isn't an application for financial aid, but it puts your home on the county's record.
- 4Pull out every policy and your mortgage papersLook for a flood policy, a homeowners policy and comprehensive car cover. Ask your homeowners insurer for a full copy of your policy if you can't find it.
- 5Talk to your lender before a payment is dueIf the flood will make payments hard, ask about forbearance now rather than after a missed payment.
Help beyond insurance
Colorado's Division of Insurance says it is unlikely a homeowners policy covers flood damage. If you have no flood policy, these are the routes open to you as of November 4, 2026.
FEMA help for households
The governor's October 31 request asked for help with public damage such as roads and bridges, not for households. The state said it would update on household aid later, so keep your records ready in case it's added.
SBA disaster loans
In a declared disaster area, homeowners can borrow up to $500,000 to repair a primary home and up to $100,000 for belongings. As of November 4, no SBA declaration covers these floods.
Tax relief
Personal casualty losses are generally deductible only when a federally declared disaster causes them, minus $100 per event and 10% of your adjusted gross income. Keep every photo and receipt either way.
Cleanup and shelter
Volunteer cleanup requests go to Crisis Cleanup at 970-283-7325 (open through November 6). Archuleta County evacuees can ask 211 about up to 28 nights of housing through Airbnb.org.
Your first 72 hours back home
The clock starts when you're allowed back in, not when the river crested. Tick things off as you go. Nothing here is saved or sent anywhere.
Hours 0 to 24
Safety first, then the record
Hours 24 to 48
Report and call
Hours 48 to 72
Muck out and keep proof
There's no curbside debris pickup in Pagosa Springs. Wood-only drop sites are at 976 S. 5th St. and 344 B Hwy 84, and the county landfill at 9179 County Road 500 charges fees. Stay off closed roads: Hermosa Street, San Juan Street and Hot Springs Boulevard were still closed on November 3. The evacuation order behind these closures is reviewed every 7 days, so check the Town's live flood recovery page before heading back.
What your homeowners policy still covers
A standard HO-3 homeowners policy leaves out flood water and earth movement, which includes mudflow. Damage from another cause in the same storm is judged on its own.
Example only · one flood week, three claims
| River water across the living room floor | Flood policy only |
| A cottonwood blown onto the roof | Homeowners, after the deductible |
| Truck submerged in the driveway | Auto comprehensive |
If the flood starts a fire, the fire damage is still covered under the standard homeowners form.
75%
of homeowners aren't very confident they'd know whether damage is covered.
Insuranceopedia Homeowner Claims Survey 2026 · 700 US homeownersColorado gives you a right to see the full wording: your homeowners insurer must send a copy of your policy within 3 business days of your request.
Not sure any of it applies to you?
Describe what happened and get a read on what your own homeowners policy may cover, before you call your insurer.
If you have a flood policy
What it pays
A National Flood Insurance Program policy covers the building up to $250,000, and belongings up to $100,000 if you added contents cover. Living costs while you're displaced aren't included.
The adjuster
FloodSmart says an adjuster typically contacts you within 48 hours of your claim. NFIP's authority to sell or renew flood policies is set to expire at midnight on December 11, 2026 unless Congress extends it again. During the fall 2025 government shutdown, the last lapse also stopped new and renewal policies until it was reauthorized.
An advance
You can ask for up to $5,000 before an adjuster visits, and up to $20,000 with documents and FEMA's approval.
Proof of loss
It's your job to send a signed, sworn proof of loss within 60 days, even if the adjuster never hands you the form.
Colorado flood deadlines and who to call
Write down every date, call and letter, and who you spoke to.
Expert view
Max Coupland
CEO, Insuranceopedia
Two floods in nine days means two sets of damage. Date every photo and write down what the first flood did before the second one arrived.
“Even without a flood policy, call your homeowners insurer about anything the river didn't touch, like a tree through the roof. And ask for a full copy of your policy while you're on the phone.”
For reporters: Max is available for interviews on insurance after the southwest Colorado floods. max@insuranceopedia.com
Related claim guides
General information for Colorado homeowners, not advice on your specific claim. Always check your own policy.
Insuranceopedia is not affiliated with any insurance company. This article is general information, not legal or coverage advice. Always check your own policy and, for a specific dispute, consult a licensed professional.
Sources
- Office of the Governor of Colorado. Governor Polis Provides Update on Southwestern Colorado Flooding, State Response, and Voting Access on Election Day. https://governorsoffice.colorado.gov/governor/news/governor-polis-provides-update-southwestern-colorado-flooding-state-response-and-voting-access
- Office of the Governor of Colorado. Governor Polis Requests Major Presidential Disaster Declaration to Unlock Federal Support for Southwestern Colorado Flood Recovery. https://governorsoffice.colorado.gov/governor/news/governor-polis-requests-major-presidential-disaster-declaration-unlock-federal-support
- Rocky Mountain PBS. Historic back-to-back floods shock Pagosa Springs residents. https://www.rmpbs.org/news/science-environment/historic-back-to-back-floods-shock-pagosa-springs-residents
- Town of Pagosa Springs. October 2026 Flood Recovery. https://www.pagosasprings.co.gov/349/October-2026-Flood-Recovery
- Archuleta County. News Flash: Report Flood Damage; Critical Flood Assistance and Shelter Information. https://www.archuletacounty.gov/community/welcome-to-archuleta-county/news/
- La Plata County. 2026 Flood. https://www.lpcgov.org/departments/emergency_management/2026_flood/index.php
- Colorado Division of Insurance. Resources For Coloradans Following Southwestern Colorado Flooding. https://doi.colorado.gov/resources-for-coloradans-following-southwestern-colorado-flooding
- Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. Home and Repair. https://dora.colorado.gov/consumer-protection-home-and-repair
- Colorado Attorney General, Stop Fraud Colorado. Contractor Fraud. https://stopfraudcolorado.gov/fraud-center/contractor-fraud/
- Archuleta County. Building Department. https://www.archuletacounty.gov/county-government/development-services/building-department/
- Colorado Revised Statutes (unofficial text). C.R.S. 10-3-1104. https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_10-3-1104
- Colorado Revised Statutes (unofficial text). C.R.S. 10-3-1115. https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_10-3-1115
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Disasters and emergencies. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/disasters-and-emergencies/
- U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA disaster assistance: Low-interest relief loans. https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance
- Internal Revenue Service. Topic no. 515, Casualty, disaster, and theft losses. https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc515
- FEMA. How to apply for FEMA assistance (release reprinted by Civic Media). https://civicmedia.us/news/2026/07/06/how-to-apply-for-fema-assistance
- FloodSmart. NFIP Claims Checklist for Policyholders. https://www.floodsmart.gov/claims-checklist
- FEMA, National Flood Insurance Program. How To Start a Flood Insurance Claim. https://agents.floodsmart.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2025-08/FEMA_NFIP_TEXT-ONLY_fema_nfip-how-start-flood-insurance-claim_flyer_20251.pdf
- National Association of Realtors. FAQ: National Flood Insurance Program Expires December 11, 2026. https://www.nar.realtor/flood-insurance/faq-national-flood-insurance-program-expires-december-11-2026
- Insurance Journal. NFIP Reauthorized With Passage of Funding Bill to End Government Shutdown. https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2025/11/13/847559.htm
- FloodSmart. Buy a flood insurance policy. https://www.floodsmart.gov/get-insured/buy-a-policy
- GovInfo. 44 CFR Part 61, Appendix A(1): Standard Flood Insurance Policy, Dwelling Form. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2024-title44-vol1/pdf/CFR-2024-title44-vol1-part61-appA1.pdf
- AAA. Does car insurance cover floods and water damage? https://www.acg.aaa.com/connect/blogs/5c/insurance/does-car-insurance-cover-floods-and-water-damage
- Insurance Services Office. Homeowners 3, Special Form, HO 00 03 03 22 (sample policy form). https://assets.alm.com/ea/96/e2eb4cdc48bab110a6e257249cea/ho-00-03-03-22-homeowners-3-special-form-1.pdf
- Insuranceopedia. Homeowner Claims Survey 2026. https://www.insuranceopedia.com/homeowners-insurance/homeowner-claims-survey
About Bob Phillips
Bob Phillips is a former California-licensed insurance agent (license #0C27547) with over 15 years helping clients plan their finances. He holds the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation from The American College, a BA from the State University of New York, and Series 6, 7, 26, 63, and 65 securities licenses, and has held life, health, disability, and property/casualty insurance licenses.
He has written hundreds of insurance and investment articles and published two financial books. You can verify Bob’s license history (#0C27547) at the California Department of Insurance.