Massive storms swamp Monument Valley area, close schools

A series of winter storms have hit San Juan County in the past week, resulting in significant problems on roads in the southern portion of the county, particularly around the Monument Valley area.
While the initial storm caused local residents to hunker down and wait out the storm, the subsequent moisture has brought some misery and suffering.
The Oljato Chapter has received a declaration of a state of emergency from the Navajo Nation after storm relief efforts swamped the limited resources of the chapter.
The total budget in the chapter for emergency relief is approximately $85,000 and the single road grader was literally swamped in the efforts to help out.
Now other organizations, including local businesses and churches, have provided additional relief to the area, including food and fuel.
Students who left the Monument Valley Schools on February 20 had no idea what they were about to face, or that they would not be back to school for nearly one month.
On February 20, it had been more than three weeks since there had been any precipitation and the warmer-than-normal temperatures was fooling the grass and trees that spring had arrived.
However, a heavy and wet storm hit over the weekend. Monument Valley had 18 inches of snow on the first day of the storm, and the subsequent seven days has brought an additional torrent of snow and rain.
There are no official reporting stations in the immediate area, so accurate storm totals are not available.
However, Bluff had the two wettest February days in history as the community received .93” on February 22 and an additional 1.21” on the next day, February 23. The previous wettest February day in Bluff was .79” on February 4, 1939.
Schools throughout the San Juan School District were canceled on February 23, and the closure continues for schools in the south, including the schools in Monument Valley, Bluff and Montezuma Creek.
Schools in Monument Valley have been closed until after Spring Break, meaning students will not return to class until March 16. The schedule for making up the missed school will be determined at a later date. The district-wide closure date will be made up on Monday, April 6.
So far, students in Monument Valley will have nine days of school to make up, students in Bluff and Montezuma Creek will have four days to make up, and students in the rest of the district will have one day to make up.
Washed out dirt roads continue to be the major obstacle to travel in the Monument Valley area. Nelson Yellowman states that four-wheel drive vehicles seem to be able to get in and out, but it is risky to travel by two-wheel drive vehicles.
The challenges are on the large number of state and county roads that have a dirt or gravel road base. In addition, many residents are unable to navigate the private driveways that lead from the public roads to their homes.