Category: Health

Coconino County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff Held Engineering Summit & Report-Out

by Community Contributor • August 30, 2021 • Comments Off

The Coconino County Flood Control District (FCD) and the City of Flagstaff hosted a one-and-a-half-day Engineering Summit in the continued effort to identify long-term flood mitigation for the Museum Flood Area.

Representatives participated from the US Forest Service, Army Corps of Engineers, Flagstaff Unified School District, Arizona Department of Water Resources, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Arizona Geological Survey, Arizona Department of Transportation, and ten civil engineers from six private engineering consulting firms, as well as staff from both the County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff.

Flagstaff Urban Trail System closure along Fort Valley Road/ Hwy 180

by Community Contributor • August 27, 2021 • Comments Off

The Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS) pathway and the southbound bike lane along the west side of Fort Valley Road/Hwy 180 will be closed between Deanna Way and Forest Avenue from Wednesday, September 1 to Friday, September 3. This closure will be in place from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Detour signage will be posted to direct Fort Valley Road/Hwy 180 FUTS traffic to the Rio de Flag FUTS Trail.

This closure is required as construction crews will be paving Beal Road and the west edge of the Beal/Fort Valley Road intersection as part of the Coconino Estates Improvements Phase I Project.

Grand Canyon National Park Weekly Wrap-up — Aug. 23-27, 2021

by Community Contributor • August 26, 2021 • Comments Off

Park staff have been busy with Search and Rescues (SARs) recently. Unfortunately, many of these events have been recoveries for apparent suicides. Times continue to be full of turmoil and stress—please, take a moment to check in with loved ones and with yourself. Working in remote areas away from close family and friends can add additional challenges during an already stressful time.

We would like to thank all of the search and rescue personnel and additional searchers from many other work groups who helped with two major SARs in Surprise Valley and Hermit Trail. Luckily, in both instances, all visitors were transported safely to the South Rim. Additional thanks go to Arizona Department of Public Safety for their support during multiple SARs over the last few weeks.

The NAU Review — Here comes the Sun

by Community Contributor • August 26, 2021 • Comments Off

As NASA prepares to send astronauts, including the first woman, to the moon, understanding the lunar environment has never been more important. A study led by doctoral candidate Christian J. Tai Udovicic, in collaboration with associate professor Christopher Edwards, offers insights into the moon’s surface, and how the sun affects the evolution of the lunar surface. The scientists discovered that solar radiation could be an important source of lunar iron nanoparticles; that means these particles, which can be detected in small amounts from a great distance, can be a great indicator of change on the moon.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Congratulations 2020/2021 Caring for Children Awardees

by Community Contributor • August 25, 2021 • Comments Off

The Coconino Coalition for Children & and Youth extends its congratulations 2020/2021 Caring for Children Awardees. They include Kailey Jensen of AZ127, Marcus Clanton of Victim Witness Services, Mark Cox of the Boys & Girls Club, Kelly Elliot of Big Brothers Big Sisters Flagstaff and Sharon Sifling of Coconino County.

Coconino County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff Staff Present at Joint Work Session on Aug. 24

by Community Contributor • August 25, 2021 • Comments Off

Last night, staff members from the Coconino County Flood Control District and the City of Flagstaff presented to the Board of Supervisors and the City Council in a joint work session on the Museum Flood Area.

The meeting provided an historic look at the mitigation efforts taken during and immediately after the Museum Fire, as well as additional mitigation measures since that time. The City and County Flood Control District deployed sandbags and barriers to the neighborhood, and warned of the high-risk for flooding. J.E. Fuller Hydrology, the leading experts in post-wildfire hydrology, were immediately engaged to conduct a flood hazard analysis. The analysis results were used by the Flood Control District to develop and implement the flood mitigation plan. The analysis showed severe flooding would impact 400 homes and 35 businesses.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — August 16-20, 2021

by Community Contributor • August 19, 2021 • Comments Off

On Monday, August 16, NPS Acting Director, Shawn Benge, issued an update for masking requirements for shared indoor and designated outdoor spaces. Outdoor mask zones have been identified for all people regardless of vaccination status (see NPS Memo here). These are the same zones that previously required mask-wearing for unvaccinated people due to the crowded nature of the area and the inability to effectively socially distance.

Grand Canyon Issues Drinking Water Advisory for Manzanita, Cottonwood Campground, and Phantom Ranch

by Community Contributor • August 19, 2021 • Comments Off

Effective August 19, 2021, the National Park Service (NPS) is recommending consumers disinfect drinking water at the following locations: Manzanita Rest Area, Cottonwood Campground, Phantom Ranch, and the Bright Angel Campground.

Drinking water at these areas should be treated or boiled. These processes should be applied to water for any consumptive use including: drinking, making ice, preparing food, brushing teeth, and washing dishes.

Museum Flood Area August 18 | Evening Media Advisory

by Community Contributor • August 18, 2021 • Comments Off

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.

Facebook Live Event Tonight at 6 p.m.: There is a Facebook Live Event scheduled for 6:00 PM today that will be hosted by Flagstaff Mayor Paul Deasy on the County’s Facebook page by both County and City members. We hope that you can attend this important virtual meeting.

Weather Forecast: The National Weather Service (NWS) is anticipating another high threat day today. An intense storm moving east from Sedona through such communities as Munds Park, Mormon Lake and the Lake Mary Road area produced heavy localized rain. Please stay vigilant as another round of flooding can occur at any time today. The NWS is an anticipating that a drying period will begin after today that will allow for a break from monsoon activities through Sunday. For up-to-date, local weather, visit https://www.weather.gov/fgz/ .   

CDC Recommends Additional COVID-19 Vaccine Dose for Certain Immunocompromised Individuals

by Community Contributor • August 18, 2021 • Comments Off

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that certain immunocompromised individuals who have already received an initial two doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) receive an additional dose.

Emerging evidence shows some people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised experienced a reduced immune response to the initial COVID-19 vaccine series. The administration of an additional mRNA COVID-19 VACCINE aims to prevent serious and possibly life-threatening COVID-19 within this population.

City of Flagstaff — Free residential food scraps drop-off service

by Community Contributor • August 18, 2021 • Comments Off

The city of Flagstaff’s Sustainability Office launched a pilot program on July 24 that seeks to advance the city’s Rethink Waste Plan and Carbon Neutrality goals through a free compost drop-off service. Through June of 2022, community members have the opportunity to drop off food scraps and other acceptable materials at two participating booth locations on a weekly basis:

The Market of Dreams (2532 E 7th Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86004) accepts materials from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturdays
Flagstaff Community Market (211 W Aspen Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86001) accepts materials from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Sundays

200- to 500-Year Rainfall Event Hits Museum Fire Burn Scar

by Community Contributor • August 17, 2021 • Comments Off

At approximately 12:15 p.m. (Aug. 17), rain began to fall over the Museum Fire Burn Scar. By the time the large storm system moved out of the area, the entire burn area was saturated, resulting in the largest rainfall event to date.

The gauges located throughout the burn scar recorded hourly rainfall as follows: 3.07 inches in south gauge, 2.4 inches in western gauge, 1.5 inches in the eastern gauge, .75 inches at northern gauge. In addition, the rainfall was intense with over 1.14 inches recorded in at the south and west gauges in 15 minutes and 1.06 inches recorded at the east gauge. Not only was significant rainfall experienced on the burn scar itself, but also in the Sunnyside neighborhood. In an hour, 1.22 inches fell at Linda Vista and 1.5 inches was recorded downstream in neighborhoods. The rainfall recorded at the south gauge equates to a 200- to 500-year rainfall event.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Meeting the Challenge of the Delta Variant

by Community Contributor • August 12, 2021 • Comments Off

As the Delta variant causes a surge in new infections and hospitalizations, the public and private sectors are scrambling to keep up with rapidly shifting recommendations on how to deal with the highly transmissible fourth wave of Covid-19.

Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff both reinstated requirements for masks while in City or County buildings, regardless of vaccination status. Yesterday, Northern Arizona University announced that masks will be required in classrooms and labs. Meanwhile, the Flagstaff Unified School District is requiring masks until at least September 29, in spite of current state law forbidding mask mandates in K-12 schools. (Requirements are evolving all the time; check an institution’s website for the latest information on their mask protocols.)

Leading the way in the response to the Delta variant, however, has been the business community. Large companies like Ford Motors, Walmart, United Airlines, and Target have recently enacted mask and/or vaccine requirements for workers. Some are also trying to coax vaccine hesitant workers to get their shots with cash bonuses.

District 2 Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez — District 2 Newsletter 3rd Edition

by Community Contributor • August 10, 2021 • Comments Off

In this edition…

Message from Sup. Vasquez
Museum Fire Flood Area Update
COVID Update
Redistricting Public Comments
And more!
Message from Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez

District 1 Supervisor Patrice Horstman — District 1 August 2021 Newsletter

by Community Contributor • August 10, 2021 • Comments Off

Hello from Supervisor Horstman
Museum Flood Response and United Way Volunteers
Mt. Elden Estates Flood Mitigation and Exigency Funding
Downtown Movies on the Square
NACo Annual Conference
Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission
COVID-19 Update
County Building Mask Requirement
Vaccine Incentive Program: Be A Big Shot
COVID Information Line and Testing Site
Museum Flood Information Line and Emergency Notifications
Flood Insurance Information
Contact Us

Museum Flood Area August 09 | Evening Media Advisory

by Community Contributor • August 9, 2021 • Comments Off

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.

Weather Forecast: The National Weather Service predicts increasing storm chances throughout the week. For up to date, local weather,

City of Flagstaff facilities require masks

by Community Contributor • August 4, 2021 • Comments Off

Due to the increase in COVID-19 community transmission, mask are now required city facilities. This requirement includes those who are fully vaccinated.

This change is in alignment with recent guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) that vaccinated individuals “wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.” The CDC has designated Coconino County as an area with “substantial transmission.“ Learn more at the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

United Way of Northern Arizona — Neighbor Helping Neighbor

by Community Contributor • August 3, 2021 • Comments Off

As recent history has shown us, we often don’t know when a crisis will happen. Although we can anticipate certain emergencies, they usually strike without warning.

What we do know is that because of your support of the United Way of Northern Arizona Crisis Response Fund, UWNA and its community and partner agencies will be ready to assist.

In the past three years, your generosity has helped your neighbors as we faced at least five crises:
The Tinder wildfire
A month-long government shutdown
The Museum fire
The lingering crisis (both health and economic) from the pandemic
The recent flooding in Flagstaff.

Coconino County Awarded $600,000 in Funds from NRCS for Emergency Watershed Protection

by Community Contributor • July 30, 2021 • Comments Off

During a special session of the Coconino County Flood Control District, the Board authorized the acceptance of financial assistance in the amount of $606,328 from the Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

The grant will be funded by NRCS at 75% and by the Flood Control District at 25%. The funds will be expended on an emergency watershed protection project for implementation of emergency measures.

Museum Flood Area July 30, 2021 update

by Community Contributor • July 30, 2021 • Comments Off

Below is a summary of (July 30’s) activities by the Coconino County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff related to the Museum Flood Area.

Today’s Storm Events: The Museum Fire burn scar did not experience significant rainfall yesterday or today.

Weather Forecast: The National Weather Service Flagstaff is predicting scattered thunderstorms through the weekend. For up-to-date local weather, please visit https://www.weather.gov/fgz/.   

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up for July 26-30, 2021

by Community Contributor • July 29, 2021 • Comments Off

World Ranger Day July 31

On July 31, the park will celebrate World Ranger Day. World Ranger Day is commemorated worldwide on July 31st to commemorate rangers killed or injured in the line of duty and to celebrate the work Rangers do to protect the planet’s natural treasures and cultural heritage. Be on the lookout for NPS-wide messaging on our social media pages.

Be on the lookout for NPS social media posts celebrating World Ranger Day later this week.

Museum Flood Area July 28, 2021 update

by Community Contributor • July 29, 2021 • Comments Off

Below is a summary of (Wednesday’s July 28) activities by the Coconino County Flood Control District and City of Flagstaff related to the Museum Flood Area.

Today’s Storm Events: The Museum Fire burn scar did not experience significant rainfall yesterday or today.

Weather Forecast: The National Weather Service predicting an uptick in thunderstorm activity Thursday through Friday. Scattered storms are anticipated throughout this weekend. For up-to-date, local weather, visit https://www.weather.gov/fgz/.   

United Way of Northern Arizona — Please Join Us: Sandbag Filling Shifts Now Through Friday

by Community Contributor • July 28, 2021 • Comments Off

The weather outside is frightful – or at least the predictions for rain are. While today should be mostly sunny, it looks like the monsoons will be returning later this week and sticking around throughout the weekend.

That’s why we are working with the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County to arrange multiple volunteer opportunities to help fill sandbags this week. Each day there are two shifts – from 8 am to Noon and then from 1 to 5 pm. Please note, however, that you don’t have to work all four hours of a shift; any amount of time you can help will be appreciated.

Grand Canyon National Park Weekly Wrap-up for July 19-23, 2021

by Community Contributor • July 22, 2021 • Comments Off

Flash Floods and Lightning Awareness

As we continue to navigate monsoon season, we would like to take a moment to discuss the dangers of flash floods and lightning within the Grand Canyon. Flash floods are distinguished from regular floods by having a timescale of fewer than six hours between rainfall and the onset of flooding.

Volunteer with the United Way of Northern Arizona

by Community Contributor • July 22, 2021 • Comments Off

Please consider volunteering with your neighbors in the Museum Flood Area! They need help restocking sandbags that keep their homes and families safe from post- wildfire flooding caused by the Museum Fire. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old.

Lightning Strike Causes Injuries at Grand Canyon National Park

by Community Contributor • July 21, 2021 • Comments Off

On July 20 at approximately 2:50 p.m., the Grand Canyon Communications Center received a report of multiple individuals struck by lightning at the Bright Angel Trailhead during a monsoonal thunderstorm.

A 30-year-old male and 28-year-old female victim were initially found unresponsive; the male regained consciousness without intervention. CPR and advanced life-saving interventions were initiated on the female, and she regained a pulse. Due to significant storm activity, air transport was not available, and both patients were transported by ground to the Flagstaff Medical Center. The female victim is reported to be in stable condition at a regional burn center. At least two other patients self-transported to the Grand Canyon Clinic with lightning splash injuries.

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — Join F3’s Community Forum on July 25

by Community Contributor • July 21, 2021 • Comments Off

Interested in how land use, affordability, water, transportation, and climate change are interrelated in Flagstaff?
Come to F3’s Community Forum!

CCC, Habitat for Humanity join forces

by Community Contributor • July 20, 2021 • Comments Off

It’s a perfect partnership.

Coconino Community College needs to offer real-world experience to the students in the Construction Technology Management program. Habitat for Humanity of Northern Arizona needs workers to help build affordable homes for Flagstaff.

In late May, leaders for the two organizations got together and made the arrangement formal. CCC CTM students will help HFH build the first of, with hope, many “starter homes” for the Flagstaff community beginning this fall.

“We want to encourage workforce development and retention to keep that talent in the community,” said Eric Wolverton, executive director of HFH. “Starter homes are an asset that keep giving. They will be a community asset serving multiple families.”

Museum Flood Area July 18 update

by Community Contributor • July 19, 2021 • Comments Off

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.

One Fatality and Multiple Injured after Flash Flood in Grand Canyon National Park

by Community Contributor • July 16, 2021 • Comments Off

On July 14 at approximately 6:00 p.m., the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report of two individuals missing and multiple parties injured after flash flood activity impacted Tatahatso Camp near River Mile 38 on the Colorado River. Grand Canyon Search and Rescue sent two paramedics to the scene to assess and treat patients. Active monsoonal weather in the area limited access to the scene for overnight search and rescue operations.

At approximately 2:30 a.m., one patient who was in critical condition was flown out via Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) helicopter from the area. Four additional patients were evacuated by air on July 15 to the Flagstaff Medical Center; they are in stable condition at this time.

Museum Flood Area July 15 update

by Community Contributor • July 16, 2021 • Comments Off

The following email was sent to Museum Flood Area residents (the evening of July 15:)

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 and the nearby neighborhoods susceptible to monsoonal flooding:

– States of Emergency: Today Flagstaff Mayor Paul Deasy and Coconino County Chair of the Board of Supervisors Matt Ryan declared States of Emergency on behalf of the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County due to the impacts of monsoonal flooding to the Museum Flood Area and other parts of Flagstaff, which started July 13, 2021. Declaring a State of Emergency allows the City and County to expend emergency funds from all available sources and request assistance from the State of Arizona.