Flash Flood Warnings Across Arizona as Heavy Rain Soaks the Southwest
Sedona ordered evacuations in three zones Sunday as flash flooding swamped roads, prompted rooftop rescues and knocked out power, with more rain expected into Monday.
Sedona officials ordered residents in evacuation zones 8, 9 and 10 to leave Sunday morning as flash flooding inundated roads across the city, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety said its Air Rescue crews pulled six people from rooftops as the mission continued into the afternoon.
The City of Sedona said multiple roads were closed, and Arizona Public Service cut power in the Brewer Road area as a safety precaution.
The Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs raised its emergency operations center to a Level 2 activation to coordinate the response. No statewide emergency declaration had been issued as of Sunday afternoon.
The National Weather Service kept dozens of alerts active across Arizona on Sunday, including a flash flood warning for the Flagstaff area lasting into early Monday and a flood warning for the Tucson area through Monday afternoon. A flood watch covered much of southern Arizona through Monday morning.
Forecasters said additional rounds of rain were expected overnight and urged drivers never to cross flooded roadways.