Whitewater paddler Ryan Dudgeon and a team of volunteer guides navigated waist-deep quicksand and flooded streets in Farmington, New Mexico, on October 23, towing a 14-foot inflatable raft to rescue pets left behind by historic floods that devastated the Four Corners region and displaced thousands.
The Bottom Line
- Desert River Guides owners Ryan and Cody Dudgeon converted their commercial rafting warehouse into a temporary emergency animal shelter after floodwaters destroyed homes across San Juan County.
- The Animas River surged to 12,000 cubic feet per second (CFS) on October 26, while the San Juan River spiked to 33,500 CFS during the flooding.
- Rescuers pulled dozens of dogs, cats, chickens, and rabbits from submerged buildings, while severe agricultural losses mounted across surrounding ranches and farms.
Paddling Into Inundated Farmington Neighborhoods
Ryan Dudgeon emerged from quicksand wearing a raspberry-pink drysuit caked in desert mud as she led the rescue operation. The 41-year-old Farmington resident and her 46-year-old husband, Cody, operate Desert River Guides, leading commercial trips down the Animas and San Juan Rivers. Having lived in Farmington their entire lives, the couple confirmed they had never experienced flooding like this. “We aren’t used to natural disasters here,” Ryan told Outside over the phone. “None of us know what to do because we’ve never dealt with something like this.”
Following guidance from the Farmington Regional Animal Shelter and the City of Farmington, the Dudgeons repurposed their equipment warehouse to shelter displaced animals. “We have kittens and puppies all over the place,” Ryan said. “More and more are showing up now that the waters have receded and other people are finding lost animals.” Across the Four Corners, rockslides blocked trails like Bridal Veil Falls in Utah, and Lake Powell rose at least ten feet. The guide shop expects to house chickens, cats, dogs, and rabbits for weeks.
High Waters and Devastating Agricultural Losses
The disaster unfolded after torrential rains struck the region on October 22. Ryan described watching floodwaters swallow her home the following day before she loaded a van with boats and gear. The team worked in drysuits, paddling through inundated neighborhoods and walking streets while towing their raft to reach frightened animals locked inside homes. While the crew rescued dozens of pets, agricultural losses proved severe. Ryan recalled trying to reach a goat farm and hearing animals bleating in the distance before the herd drowned. “There were dead animals everywhere,” Ryan said. “People were calling us, and we went out with our boats and gear, and we spent two days trying to rescue animals in rafts and float people out.” Deceased pigs, horses, and goats drifted through streets alongside housing debris and logjams.
Longtime residents compared the disaster to the 100-year floods of October 1911. Rumors circulated through town that a nearby dam had broken, though it was just flooding from swollen rivers. River volumes are measured in cubic feet per second (CFS), with one cubic foot approximating the size of a basketball. The Animas River typically runs between 1,000 and 4,000 CFS, but on October 26 it pushed 12,000 CFS. The San Juan River, usually rafted at around 500 CFS, surged to 33,500 CFS in Farmington.
Converting a Whitewater Warehouse Into an Animal Ark
Shortly after opening their warehouse to rescued animals on October 23, officials placed the shop under an immediate flood watch around 10:00 P.M. Friends and colleagues arrived to evacuate rafts onto a bus and move animal crates to higher ground. The following morning brought up to four inches of rain within ten minutes, sending water rushing down the hills toward the shop as the river breached its banks. The warehouse now doubles as living quarters for volunteers and animal caretakers, who sleep on camping gear, utilize the pool table, and cook meals on camp stoves.
| River | Normal Flow (CFS) | Flood Peak Flow (CFS) | Date Measured |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animas River | 1,000 – 4,000 | 12,000 | October 26, 2026 |
| San Juan River | ~500 | 33,500 | Peak Flood |
Upstream mobile home parks in Bloomfield and downstream areas through Shiprock and the Navajo Nation suffered severe inundation, with homes washed off foundations and submerged to rooflines. Thick layers of contaminated river mud and flooded sewage treatment plants further complicated recovery efforts. “Trailers were moved off the foundations and houses were taken downstream—they’re stuck on bridges or on the side of the river,” Ryan said. “They’ve lost everything. I can’t imagine how long this recon will take. It’s literally unbelievable.”
Community Recovery and Returning to the Classroom
Amid the wreckage, Ryan turned her focus toward her work as an elementary school teacher and a parent. While housing displaced pets and helping neighbors whose homes filled with up to a foot of mud, she prepared to resume teaching. “Everybody in the community has come together. I’ve never seen anything like this or experienced anything like this,” Ryan said. “Tomorrow, everybody’s going back to school, and as a fourth-grade teacher, I’m just going to try to make my kids’ lives feel as normal as possible.” Though she has not convinced Cody to adopt any of the displaced animals, the couple did manage a float on the Animas River at its peak flow. “I will tell you, best float of my life,” Ryan said.
