Navajo Nation activates emergency response as communities mobilize aid
Navajo Nation activates emergency declaration while communities establish shelters and deliver aid to flood victims.
Event / Disaster
Navajo Nation Flash Flood
Three people died in flash flooding on the Navajo Nation near Newcomb, New Mexico on September 16, 2026, when monsoon rains swept them away while crossing a wash. The flooding damaged roads, stranded families, and prompted a state of emergency declaration and emergency response efforts.
4 reported locations
Daily activity
2 articles0 articles
2026-09-20 to 2026-11-04 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 20 Sept, 00:43 UTC
Follow the documented timeline or explore the related reporting.
What happened
Three people killed in flash flood near Newcomb, New Mexico on Navajo Nation
Three people died in a flash flood on Tuesday near Newcomb, New Mexico, a community of about 400 people on the Navajo Nation. The victims were Elsie Begay (grandmother), Lucy Allison Mike (7-year-old granddaughter), and Dora Franklin (family friend). They were swept away in floodwaters while trying to cross a wash after their truck became stuck in mud during heavy rain and storms.
Navajo Nation President declares state of emergency due to flooding
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren declared a state of emergency on Friday as communities remained isolated by standing water and road damage from ongoing flooding. The declaration was made as rain continued to fall across the region. Nygren urged residents to use alternate routes, check on elders and relatives, and follow guidance from emergency personnel.
Three families evacuated from Shiprock due to San Juan River flooding
Navajo police evacuated three families in Shiprock, New Mexico on Friday evening due to rising water levels and flooding near the San Juan River, as part of the broader monsoon-related flooding event affecting the Navajo Nation.
Mexican Springs community sets up temporary shelter and delivers aid to stranded households
In Mexican Springs, approximately 40 miles south of Newcomb, flooding made dirt and gravel roads impassable. The Mexican Springs Chapter House was converted into a temporary shelter. Volunteers used ATVs to deliver food, water, and supplies to stranded households. Road damage included washed-out ditches, missing culvert pipes, and massive holes in roads that prevented access.
Flash flooding across Navajo Nation damages roads and causes evacuations
Flash flooding across the Navajo Nation this week caused widespread damage to roads, forced evacuations, and disrupted transportation. The flooding was caused by a late-season surge of monsoon moisture bringing heavy rain to the Four Corners region. Multiple roads on the Navajo Nation remained closed, and many dirt and gravel roads became impassable, stranding families and preventing access to homes.
Read the coverage
2 alternative perspectives
Flash flooding across Navajo Nation claims lives and displaces families
Three killed in Navajo Nation flash flood; roads damaged, families evacuated from Shiprock.