The three Shiprock families evacuated near the San Juan Bridge are back home

All three Shiprock families evacuated near the San Juan Bridge have returned safely to their homes, the Navajo Police Department said in an update at 6:50 p.m. on Saturday.

Two of the three sheltered at the Catholic Center Bingo Hall, the department said. One family from Sanostee was unable to make it through their road and also sheltered overnight at the facility.

The Shiprock Chapter House is distributing sandbags for this upcoming week's anticipated rainfall, and community members are setting out sandbags at Nizhoni Park and distributing them to families that live close to the river. USGS is on site checking the water level, water temperature, and discharge of the river.

The evacuation notice had gone out at 3:41 p.m. the day before, citing the level of water rising and flooding near the San Juan Bridge, with heavy rain from Farmington running downstream into the river. The most impacted area was Nizhoni Park, which was overflowing, and NMDOT was on scene monitoring the bridge and road.

Since the monsoon season is not over just yet, the department said, now is the time to prepare, not when the rain begins. It said weather-related conditions vary throughout the Navajo Nation and asked the public to keep safety their priority.

What

All three evacuated families have returned safely to their homes

Where

Sandbags are at the Shiprock Chapter House and at Nizhoni ParkDirections

When

The update was issued at 6:50 p.m. on Saturday

How

Prepare now rather than when the rain begins, and stay informed on weather updates