FLAGSTAFF — 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/ .
August 17 Storm Recap:
Per the press release in our last email, yesterday we experienced intense rainfall over the Museum burn scar. JE Fuller, the County’s consultant, reports that, in the Museum Flood Area, intense and long-duration rainfall combined with local rainfall in the Museum Flood Area. The southern rain gauge received 3.07” of rainfall in one hour and two of the gauges received 1.14” in 15 minutes on the burn scar. The 3”+ event equates to 200- to 500-year rainfall event in the Museum Flood Area
The intensity of this rainfall event, coupled with its significant duration, combined with serious localized flooding in the Paradise, Grandview, and Sunnyside areas. Downstream of the burn scar, streets, homes, and businesses were impacted from East Street through 4th Street and as far south as Butler and 4th Street.
Mitigation Performance:
The on-going mitigation efforts in the flood area held up very well given this level of flooding. This includes the Mt. Elden Estates area where the Flood Control District had just completed the Mt. Elden Estates NRCS Exigency Project, which performed exceptionally well through this major flood event.
Sandbag Operations & Placement: Sandbags will continue to be deployed and available to community members. Pre-filled sandbags are available in the parking lot north of C-A-L Ranch and the King Street location will be available for self-fill sandbagging. Coconino County Public Works has 1,300 pre-filled sandbag pallets that will be restocking the C-A-L Ranch site. Additional empty sandbags are being secured from Phoenix, and the FCD is ordering more concrete barriers.
Call Center: Last night the Call Center received 75 calls with12 homes within the Museum Flood area reporting interior flooding. Since the beginning of the monsoon season the Call Center has received a total of 590 calls.
Resident Requests for Services: The City is conducting damage assessments prioritizing those with interior flooding. The inspectors will be accompanied by engineering staff so the flood mitigation can be evaluated as well and addressed as needed. We have two Conservation Corps crews and we are locating more crews as well as reaching back out to other resources like Team Rubicon, if needed, once the assessment information is reviewed.
Volunteers Needed: United Way of Northern Arizona is planning an additional Neighbor Helping Neighbor Events this Saturday, August 21st to support flood mitigation efforts. We need more volunteers to make sandbags, place sandbags at residences, and assist with debris clean up. Additional volunteer opportunities are being planned to supplement Please sign up at https://uwna.volunteerhub.com/ or call 928-773-9813.
Establishing Volunteer Reception Center: United Way is working with the City and County EOC to establish a Volunteer Reception Center (VRC). We will update you when the location if finalized.
Joint City & County Meeting: There is a joint City Council/Board of Supervisors meeting this Monday at 3:00 at which time there will be an update on the Museum Flood area flood events, response efforts, and mitigation.
Forest Hills/Magdalena Area Flood Event: According to the National Weather Service, a 400-year rainfall event severely impacted the upper Rio de Flag and particularly the Magdalena watersheds yesterday. The County has deployed crews to address impacts to the roadway and to install mitigation in the Forest Hills area, which is just west of Flagstaff. This was not a result of the Museum Burn Scar flood event but a separate area outside of the burn scar. A home was destroyed by the flooding when 4 feet of floodwater went through the entire home. Another home received several inches of floodwater. The City has also deployed crews to impacts from this rainfall event in the Cheshire area as well as the Rio de Flagstaff area primarily from South Leroux through to a northern section of the NAU campus.
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. Have a Stay Kit ready.
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.
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.
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.
SOCIAL SERVICES RESOURCE GUIDE:https://www.coconino.az.gov/DocumentCenter/View/35228/COVID-19-Social-Safety-Net-Services-Coalition-Resource-Guide-V9_
CLEAN UP OF INTERIOR FLOODING: https://www.coconino.az.gov/2437/After-a-Flood-Event
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