FLAGSTAFF — The following email was sent to Museum Flood Area residents (the evening of July 18):
Below is a summary of today’s activities by the Coconino County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff related to the Museum Flood Area.
– Storm Activity: The National Weather Service is forecasting increased thunderstorm activity through Thursday with particularly increased chance of significant rainfall between Tuesday and Thursday this week. Although major thunderstorms were expected today, the thunderstorm cells missed the burn scar.
– Sandbags: Residents are reminded NOT to remove sandbags from existing flood mitigation efforts. Removing sandbags from barriers and the other mitigation measures places your home and others at greater risk for flooding.
In the six days since monsoon flooding began in the Museum Flood Area and east Flagstaff, the Coconino County Flood Control District’s existing stockpile of approximately 75,000 sandbags has been fully deployed and utilized by community members working to mitigate flood impacts to their homes. The Emergency Management Team has arranged for crews from the Arizona Conservation Corps and the American Conservation Experience, as well as the Flagstaff Wildland Fire Crew to assist in producing more sandbags. Team Rubicon, a non-profit disaster relief agency comprised of military veterans, also has been deployed to help with shoring up sandbags for the elderly and disabled and with sandbag production. These efforts will enable the Coconino County Flood Control District and the City of Flagstaff to continue to assist the community with fortifying their sandbag walls, while building a stockpile for future events.
Pre-filled sandbags may be available. However, residents should be prepared to fill their own sandbags. A properly built and maintained sandbag wall can prevent or reduce flood damage to your home. Residents who are elderly or have disabilities that prevent them from repairing their sandbag walls adjacent to their homes can call 928-679-8525 for assistance.
- Coconino High School: South parking lot of Coconino High School located at 2801 N Izabel near the Hal Jensen Recreation Center.
- Coconino County Health and Human Services: County HHS Building, 2625 King Street.
Click here for more information: https://www.coconino.az.gov/2134/Sandbag-Information.
Site Assessments: Engineers continue to be deployed throughout the Museum Flood Area and east Flagstaff to evaluate flood mitigation efforts on private properties and advise residents on the best approach to mitigate flood impacts to their homes without negatively impacting neighbors. You can request a site-assessment if:
- Flood water has overtopped your sandbags
- Flood water is impacting your home even with sandbags or other mitigation
- You are concerned about impacts from nearby sandbag/mitigation efforts
To request a site assessment, please contact the Museum Flood Area Call Center at 928-679-8525. City and County crews will be conducting these assessments prioritizing residents who are elderly and/or disabled, as well as properties where water has impacted the interior of the homes.
– Public Infrastructure Assessment: The City of Flagstaff conducted an assessment of its public infrastructure impacted by the flooding and have estimated damage at $1.94 million.
– Operations: Crews focused today on shoring up the mitigation around the Arroyo Seco and Dortha inlets. Residents are removing sandbags from these locations so they were restocked today. In addition, the crew sandbagged the mobile home park at the corner of Main and Cedar. They also addressed mitigation needs at four residents (elderly and disabled).
– Drainage Infrastructure Update: The Emergency Operations Center has requested a National Guard Engineering & Operations team to be deployed to Flagstaff to assist with responding to impacts to the City of Flagstaff’s storm water infrastructure. As we experience more flooding, they will clear debris and dirt from inlets and drainages to prepare for additional storms.
– Roads & Streets Infrastructure: City and County crews continued to clear City streets today and made good progress. Please continue to place mud and debris in the streets for removal by these crews. Crews are trucking significant amounts of forest debris, silt, rock, and trash from the roads. Street sweeping is a tremendous focus and will continue both night and day for the foreseeable future. More than 200 tons have been taken to the landfill so far.
– Flood Impact Assessment Update: If your home has been impacted on the interior by flooding, then please report the impacts by calling the Museum Flood Area Call Center at 928-679-8525.
– Volunteers Needed: Please ask your friends, family and co-workers outside of the flood area to assist by volunteering. We need more volunteers to make sandbags, place sandbags at residences, and to assist with clean up. Please sign up at uwna.volunteerhub.com or call 928-773-9813.
– APS: Monsoon storms can bring down overhead power lines and flooding can expose underground electrical wire. If you see downed lines or exposed underground wire, then stay far away from the area, call 911 and then call Arizona Public Service (APS) at (602) 258-5483. For additional safety tips, visit https://www.aps.com/outagecenter. If you see other types of utilities exposed, then please call those utility companies as well or contact the Museum Flood Call Center at 928-679-8525.
Below is important information for residents of the Museum Flood Area and those who experienced monsoonal flooding:
- SHELTER IN PLACE: During flood events, residents should shelter in place. Do not get close to the flood water – please remain in your home. Know where your children and pets are at all times. Never enter drainages.
- DEBRIS ON PROPERTY: If you have debris on your property, then you should move the debris to the street if you are able — only when the water has stopped flowing. This will help County and City Public Works crews remove the debris with their heavy equipment. If you are elderly or disabled and need assistance with repairing sandbag walls or with debris removal, then please call the Call Center at 928-679-8525.
- PARKED CARS: If you live on one of the streets that has debris as a result of the flood, then please do not park your car on the streets. Parked cars on these streets prevent the sandbags from doing their job—protecting your property.
- MORE RAIN: Additional rain is expected on the Museum burn scar and in the City of Flagstaff. This means that people in the area need to be alert and be prepared to shelter in place. Charge your phones. Assemble a Stay Kit with the following:
- First aid kit
- Pet supplies
- Manual can opener
- Cell phone & charger
- Personal hygiene items
- Cash (e.g., small bills and coins)
- Flashlight(s) with extra batteries
- 72 hours’ worth of food and water
- Copy of Family Communication Plan
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Prescription medications and eyeglasses
- Important papers (e.g., insurance and financial)
- TRACK WEATHER: For the latest Museum Fire scar weather conditions and NWS notifications please visit https://www.weather.gov/fgz/MuseumFireFloodRisk
- SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY ALERTS: https://coconino.az.gov/207/Emergency-Management
- MUSEUM FLOOD AREA CALL CENTER: The Call Center will be operational daily. Hours of operation may shift depending on any weather events that may occur. The number is 928-679-8525.
- STAY IN TOUCH: Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff are providing updates on our websites and social media: coconino.az.gov, twitter.com/coconinocounty, and facebook.com/coconinocounty | flagstaff.az.gov, facebook.com/CityofFlagstaff