Welcome to the Town of Bluff
SAN JUAN RIVER – TOWN OF BLUFF FLOODING UPDATES
IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, CALL 911.
This webpage will be updated intermittently.
9:00 PM🚨 EMERGENCY: EVACUATE BLUFF NOW 🚨
Floodwaters are reaching Bluff, Utah. ALL RESIDENTS MUST EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY.
Grab your go bag, medications, essential items, and pets. Leave NOW. Do not wait.
➡️ Evacuate NORTH toward Blanding.
🏠 Emergency Shelter:
San Juan High School
311 N 100 E, Blanding, Utah
⚠️ Do not drive through floodwaters or around barricades. Follow directions from emergency personnel and use the safest available evacuation route.
Your safety is the priority. Leave immediately and share this alert to help reach others.
FOR RESCUES, CALL GARY L. at 510-409-5293
OTHERWISE CALL 911
URGENT: EVACUATE NOW — BLUFF, UTAH 8:30PM
Floodwaters are reaching Bluff, and conditions are changing rapidly. EVACUATION ORDERS ARE IN EFFECT. TAKE ACTION NOW.
📍 If you live south of Highway 191/Main Street (the river side), LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. Do not wait.
- Grab your go-bag, medications, essential items, and pets.
- Head north toward Blanding.
- An emergency shelter is available at San Juan High School, 311 N 100 E, Blanding.
⚠️ Do not wait for another update. Do not attempt to cross flooded roads or drive through floodwater. Conditions can worsen quickly, and roads may become impassable.
Please share this message with family, friends, and neighbors who may be in the evacuation area. Check on others only if you can do so safely.
YOUR SAFETY COMES FIRST. LEAVE NOW. FOLLOW EMERGENCY PERSONNEL INSTRUCTIONS.
Sunday, October 25, 2026 | 8:00 PM: Town of Bluff Flooding & Evacuation Update
River water levels in Bluff are now being observed rising rapidly. Based on current conditions, residents on the south side of Main Street may be advised to evacuate later tonight. If water levels continue to rise, a large-scale, potentially town-wide evacuation may be necessary in the very early hours of Monday, October 26th.
Residents, Businesses, and Hotel Guests are encouraged to consider voluntary evacuation now rather than risk having to leave in the middle of the night. Please understand that evacuation orders are issued to protect not only residents, but also our limited emergency personnel, first responders, and volunteers. Evacuations may also be necessary to ensure roads out of town remain passable, even if individual homes are not experiencing flooding. If issued, a town-wide evacuation will be signaled by the siren sounding continuously for several minutes and an alert sent via San Juan County, specifically from the Town of Bluff, to mobile phones.
Road Closures
- Highway 162 is currently flooded and closed between the intersection of Highways 191 and 162 near Cow Canyon and Bluff Bench Road.
- Please avoid this area and do not attempt to drive through floodwater.
- We believe roads are still closed in Montezuma Creek
Voluntary Evacuation & Shelter
Residents who choose to evacuate may go to the Red Cross shelter at:
San Juan High School
311 N 100 E
Blanding, UT 84511
Prepare Now
If you remain in Bluff tonight, please take the following precautions:
- Prepare a Go Bag: Include at least one week of medications and necessary medical supplies, 72 hours of clothing, toiletries, important documents, chargers, essential supplies.
- Keep phones charged and nearby: Turn on notifications for emergency alerts and keep your phone, charger, and power bank accessible while you sleep.
- Plan for pets: Bring pets indoors and prepare carriers, leashes, food, medications, and other necessary supplies.
- Keep belongings ready to go: Have essential items packed and vehicles ready so you can leave quickly if an evacuation order is issued.
If you need assistance with pet kennels, please contact Jen Davila at (435) 459-2274 as a she has a limited supply available to borrow.
Please remain alert and be prepared to act quickly. Conditions are changing rapidly, and we will share additional information as it becomes available. Your safety is our priority. Please take these warnings seriously and prepare now. If you have the ability to share this information with your neighbors, please do so. We understand that not all people have access to email or the town website.
3:45 PM Sunday, October 25, 2026: NOTICE: Bluff Flood Update
As of 3:45 PM on Sunday, October 25, the Town of Bluff continues to closely monitor rising water levels along the San Juan River and changing flood conditions throughout the region.
Current Flooding and Road Conditions
• For the most up-to-date road conditions UDOT is the best resources: https://www.udottraffic.utah.gov/#:MyRoutes
• Montezuma Creek: At approximately 10:00 AM, river-related flooding increased, with floodwaters crossing Highway 162. Additional road closures have been reported throughout Montezuma Creek.
• Regional Roads: Road closures have been reported near the junction of Highways 160 and 191, near Mexican Water.
• Bluff River Corridor: River levels are rising, and the Town is actively monitoring conditions.
Emergency Preparedness in Bluff
Town officials and emergency services are monitoring river levels every 30 minutes, which will increase in frequency to every 15 minutes based on level/flow increases. Based on current conditions and our ongoing monitoring, we remain confident that there will be sufficient time to coordinate an evacuation should conditions require one. However, river conditions can change, and residents should be prepared to act quickly if circumstances warrant.
We have already contacted individuals in the primary flood-risk areas who would be among the first potentially impacted by an evacuation.
All Bluff residents are reminded to be prepared to evacuate on short notice. Please ensure your Go Bag is ready, medications and essential items are accessible, and you have a plan for your household and pets. A town-wide evacuation will be signaled by the siren sounding continuously for several minutes and an alert sent via San Juan County, specifically from the Town of Bluff, to mobile phones.
The Town is exercising an abundance of caution to protect the safety of all residents, visitors, and emergency responders. We appreciate your patience, understanding, and cooperation as we continue to assess conditions and prepare for any necessary response.
We will share additional updates as new information becomes available. Please remain alert, avoid flooded roadways, and follow instructions from emergency personnel.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10:10 AM Sunday, October 25, 2026: INFORMATIONAL UPDATE: Flooding and Evacuation Update
There may be confusion regarding an evacuation order issued by the Navajo Nation that referenced Bluff. The order was for unincorporated Navajo Nation Lands near Bluff.
The Town of Bluff has only evacuated a small number of residents in low-lying areas. There is no town-wide evacuation order for Bluff at this time.
If you turned off your power last night, you may choose to turn it back on. However, please be prepared for the possibility of another full evacuation as conditions change. Please remain alert, monitor official updates, and prioritize your safety.
8:35 AM Sunday, October 25, 2026: NOTICE: Bluff Flood Update
The Town of Bluff is providing this update on our evolving flood situation. Please remain vigilant, stay in touch with neighbors, and be ready to evacuate Bluff.
On Saturday evening, a USGS staff member notified us that the San Juan River had surged at the Bridge over Highway 160 near the Four Corners at roughly 54,000 CFS. We also learned that the Navajo Nation was establishing an incident command post in Montezuma Creek to begin evacuating families along the river, including the entire community of Montezuma Creek, which has now been fully evacuated. To support an influx of evacuated families, the Red Cross has established a shelter at San Juan High School in Blanding.
After gathering more information, we continued to receive predictions of record-high projected flows, with surges expected to reach Bluff early Sunday morning and continue throughout Sunday. We mobilized and decided to evacuate residents in the low-lying areas of town. It went smoothly, and we appreciate everyone’s cooperation.
As of 8:00 AM Sunday morning, the San Juan River has not begun to rise in the Bluff Valley. However, based on ongoing communication with USGS, we believe floodwaters are on their way, though the extent of flooding is still unknown.
We’re monitoring the river closely and have plans to evacuate people in stages if necessary. If fast-rising floodwaters become likely or imminent, we will issue a townwide evacuation. We believe we’ll have enough time to get everyone out safely. A town-wide evacuation will be signaled by the siren sounding continuously for several minutes and an alert sent via San Juan County, specifically from the Town of Bluff, to mobile phones. Several river gauges are down, so we’re relying on direct contact with the USGS, the National Weather Service, and the Navajo Nation.
Please be ready to evacuate immediately. Have a 72-hour go bag, necessary medications and medical supplies, and a plan for your pets. If you need help evacuating, contact us now so we can plan for you. We’re here to help and will keep you posted.
5:00 PM Saturday, October 24, 2026 Flooding Update Meeting Recording: You Tube
Bluff Town Council Meetings
Bluff Town Council Meetings are scheduled for the first three Tuesdays of each month, starting at 4:00pm, unless otherwise posted.
Bluff P&Z Regular Meetings
Planning and Zoning Meetings are scheduled the first and third Thursday of each month starting at 6:00pm, unless otherwise posted.
Notes: Public Hearings or meetings scheduled outside of the regular meeting cadence may have a different meeting link. Please view the published agenda for each respective meeting to ensure you have the correct meeting link. Trouble joining a Zoom meeting? Check out this quick tutorial on how to join via your web browser: Tutorial
Requests for Proposals
Housing Consultant Request for Proposal – The Town of Bluff, Utah, invites qualified housing consultants to submit proposals to support a local housing working group and prepare a Bluff-specific housing options assessment and actionable plan. The selected consultant will help the Town identify the factors limiting the development and availability of additional housing options in Bluff and recommend practical policies, programs, partnerships, and implementation steps the Town may pursue to reduce those barriers.
RFP Issued: September 21, 2026
Proposal Submission Deadline: October 26, 2026 by 5:00pm MDT
Anticipated Consultant Selection: November 3, 2026
Public Notices Have Moved
Please go to the “Government and Departments” tab, and drop down to “Public Notices” to view all public notices, including handouts, meeting links, and additional information, if available.
Town of Bluff Anti-Discrimination Policy: The Town of Bluff does not engage in unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability with respect to employment, Town services, programs, and activities, or functions. Click Here to view the full unlawful discrimination policy resolution.