Big Weekend In Colfax County - Floods

[thvigil11]

In the past I've alluded to being a first responder and little .gov employee. To clarify, my full position is Colfax County Emergency Manager.

We had what we call a significant flood event down here over the weekend. The news is covering the boy scout ranch and the kid that was killed in the flood. What they are not covering is that HWY 64 between Cimarron and Eagle Nest was closed all weekend from the same flood. Rockslides and overflows took out half the highway, complete sections were under flowing water. Several hundred folks were trapped in the state park and the village of Ute Park. This ontop of the flooding at Philmont that took out a huge amount of trails, cabins, equipment and displaced hundreds of boy scouts. Plus the secondary and tertiary SARs that took place throughout the weekend. I could go on, but you get the point. And guess who got to be IC for this whole enchilada. That's right kids, this guy. Truthfully, I am very happy the media didn't bother us. Those folks add a whole nother level of "fun" to any event. All said, the highway is reopened. We have lost a lot of infrastructure and got our work cut out for ourselves. We lost a kid, which words fail me even now. (I'm pissed, I'm heartbroken, I'm many things) On the good side, our other casualty figures are light. Some bumps and bruises, and emotinal trauma, but all survivable. Sadly the scouts that were swept away were camping well away from the river, in what can normally be considered a safe area. It just shows how this flood was signifigantly larger than anything we have experienced in our recorded history. We had a flood event in 1904 that was everything the equal of this, but most of the effected areas from this weekend were unoccupied back then, so data on what happened in those areas is nonexistant.

I tell you all this because you are my friends here. I don't do this job for thanks and praise. So don't worry about me, but please keep your thoughts and prayers for the family of that 14 year old, the survivors and families, and for the countless other agencies* that helped to get us through this weekend.


*NM State Police
Colfax County Sheriffs Office
Cimarron PD
Village of Cimarron
Village of Eagle Nest
Philmont Scout Ranch
NM State Highway Dept.
Cimaron Canyon State Park
NM State Engineers Office
Ute Park Fire
Eagle Nest Fire
Cimarron Fire
Philmont Fire
Miami Fire
Raton Rapid Response Fire

and probably a half dozen other folks that I'm forgetting right now. Thanks for letting me vent.

[StagLefty]

I've had the pleasure of going to Philmont several times during my Scout career. The camp covers a huge area and the Scout population is huge during the summer.
I pray for the Scouts and first responders affected by the floods and hope the camp recovers quickly. Thank you for position during this crisis.

[TFOGGER]

I was at Philmont when I was 2, as my dad was the Camp Doctor that season. I don't remember much of it, but I have some 8mm movies of it.

[vossman]

Philmont was a big thing when I was a scout. Never got to go.
Sad event.

[TheGrey]

Floods are frightening in their swiftness and unpredictability. First responders deserve massive respect for what they do- I can't imagine the emotional and mental toll that they (and you) must go through during such an emergency.

[Delfuego]

You're a good man doing a tough and mostly thankless job. First responders, EMS and SAR personnel rarely get the credit they deserve. Cheers.

[Bailey Guns]

Good luck with the cleanup/recovery. We'll be thinking of you and the others with you.

[clublights]

I did Philmont in the early 90's .... was a great time .



Sad about the losses.... :-/

[MAP]

My first trip to Phimlont was 1978. I going back at the end of July.

Thank you for your effort and thanks to all of the responders.

Mike

[Grant H.]

I've been to Philmont several times, and lead several crews.

Thank you for doing something that many won't.