Water Damage & Flood Cleanup in Chromo & US 84, CO
The Navajo River near Chromo set a gauge record in October 2026. Along US 84 south of Pagosa Springs, most homes are spread out, many sit empty part of the year, and help can be a long drive away. Here is what to know, and a way to get free quotes.
Get a Free QuoteThe corridor at a glance
Chromo is an unincorporated community on US 84, about 18 miles southeast of Pagosa Springs in a straight line, where the Navajo and Little Navajo rivers run. ZIP code 81128 is tiny: the 2020 to 2024 Census survey counted about 34 residents and 73 housing units, so treat these figures as rough.
- 61.6% of units are seasonal or recreational, the highest share in our service area.
- Median year built: 2000.
- Private wells and septic systems are the norm.
October 2026, as of November 1: the Navajo River near Chromo reached 7.8 feet, above its prior record of 5.1 feet (Pagosa Sun, Oct 29, 2026). Low-lying areas along the Navajo were included in the Town's October 22 evacuation warning. A second San Juan River crest is forecast for the night of November 1, 2026. If you are under an evacuation order, leave, and don't return to a flooded building until officials say it is safe.
Three ways water gets into homes out here
River and creek flooding
The Navajo and Little Navajo rise fast in heavy rain and snowmelt. River water carries silt and can carry sewage, so it is treated as contaminated. See flood cleanup.
Frozen pipes in empty homes
With most homes seasonal, a split line can run unnoticed for days. Ask someone to check heat and shut off water while you're away. See frozen and burst pipes.
Wet crawl spaces
High groundwater and saturated soil push water under the house, where it sits out of sight and feeds mold. See crawl space water.
If you come back to a wet house
Walk around the outside first. Look for sagging floors, shifted foundations and downed lines. If anything looks wrong, stay out.
If it is safe, photograph and film every room before you move anything, including the water line on the walls. Shut off the well pump at its breaker and leave it off until the well is checked; the Archuleta County Public Health Department says to use other water until a flooded well is tested and disinfected. Don't pump a flooded septic tank until groundwater drops.
Then call your insurer. Standard homeowners policies generally exclude flood, so you may need an NFIP or private flood policy for river water. A burst pipe is a different peril and is often treated differently. Ask for a copy of your policy in writing; in Colorado an insurer must provide it within 3 business days.
The EPA says materials dried within 24 to 48 hours usually won't grow mold. For a vacant home found days later, assume mold is possible and ask the companies about mold after flooding. If the house is older, ask about asbestos testing before anyone tears out drywall.
Request quotes along US 84
Give the nearest mile marker or road, what got wet, and how long ago. Independent companies that cover Chromo and the US 84 corridor reply to you directly. Or call (970) 408-5771.
Remember that work in the floodplain needs a Floodplain Development Permit from Archuleta County first.
Chromo & US 84 questions
Do restoration companies travel to Chromo?
Some do. Chromo is remote, so coverage varies by company and by season. Describe the property and access when you request quotes, and the independent companies that serve the area can reply. Ask each one how often they would visit to take moisture readings.
I found my Chromo cabin flooded weeks later. Is it too late to dry it?
No, but expect more tear-out. After 24 to 48 hours, EPA guidance says to assume mold may be growing. Companies typically remove wet porous materials, dry the framing to verified readings and then treat or remediate mold. Photograph everything first for your insurer.
Who do I call about a flooded well in Chromo?
The Archuleta County Public Health Department gives well guidance for the county, including turning off power to the well and testing before you drink the water. A well contractor or the restoration company can help with the pump and wellhead, but follow ACPHD's steps on testing.
Nearby areas
Flood or water damage? Get free quotes.
Tell us what happened and independent restoration companies serving Pagosa Springs and Archuleta County can reply with no-obligation quotes.