It’s Monday, July 19. The National Weather Service issued several flash flood warnings throughout northern Arizona Sunday for areas including Dilkon, Lake Montezuma near Camp Verde, Supai, and Heber-Overgaard.
Precipitation remains in the forecast today with a 58% chance of rain in Flagstaff, a 53% chance in Prescott and 37% chance in Chinle. A Flash Flood Watch is effective for northern regions of Mohave County.
Flooding Updates: Ducey Declares Emergency As City Assesses Damage
Rainfall declined in Flagstaff over the weekend — with 0.12 in. recorded Sunday — as community members gathered to clear debris in the aftermath of flooding last week. Coconino National Forest officials advised the public to avoid approaching Elden Lookout Road as forest personnel work to clear drainage systems in 2019 Museum Fire Burn Scar area. Gov. Doug Ducey on Friday issued a Declaration of Emergency amid the flash flooding; Ducey’s office says the mandate will allow the state to allocate up to $200,000 to bolster response efforts.
The City of Flagstaff, however, estimates the flood caused $1.94 million in damage to public infrastructure.
Flooding Updates: What You Can Do
Meanwhile, monsoon activity remains in the forecast for northern Arizona. Free, pre-filled sandbags are available at the Coconino High School south parking lot and outside the Health and Human Services Building on King St. Coconino County officials estimate residents have used about 75,000 sandbags within the past week to divert runoff. Athletes from Northern Arizona University and county inmates were among those who filled new sandbags in recent days, according to county spokesperson Alexandra Fischer. County officials say they’ll work with residents whose sandbags are not alleviating the effects of flooding. The Museum Flood Area Call Center remains active; a call center representative told KNAU Sunday Spanish-language options are available.
Navajo Nation Delegate Gets Funds For Chinle Chapter Flooding
Navajo Nation Council Delegate Eugene Tso is set to receive funding from the U-S Army Corps of Engineers for floodplain management in the Chinle chapter. The council says Tso has proposed to use the funding to assess and lessen flood risk. The Navajo Nation in 2019 implemented a major disaster declaration with former President Trump and FEMA after snowfall and resultant flooding hit tribal lands.
Tso says runoff often enters the Valley Store spring, affecting community welfare. The delegate is slated to receive the funding award later this month. The National Weather Service predicts a 37% chance of rain today in Chinle.
Yavapai College Offers Free Semester Amid Nationwide Decline In College Enrollment
Yavapai College has announced it will pay for students’ tuition for the upcoming semester at the institution’s new Verde Valley Skilled Trades Center. The center will open to students next month in Clarkdale and will cover coursework in electrical, construction, refrigeration and plumbing. The National Clearinghouse Center reported a 9.5% dip in enrollment in spring 2021 among the country’s two-year public colleges.
Upticks In COVID-19 Cases Reported Across Northern AZ
Yavapai County’s Community Health Services Department continues to report an increase in COVID-19 case rates. CCHS documented 289 cases last week between Monday and Friday, while 44.1% of the county has been partially or fully vaccinated according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The county is rolling out additional vaccination opportunities in Prescott, Prescott Valley, and Cottonwood next month as the school year approaches. The CDC is now reporting high levels of COVID-19 transmission in both Yavapai and Mohave counties.
The Hopi Tribe has also reported a bump in cases, according to data released Friday, with eight cases confirmed within a two-week period. Vaccination clinics are slated this week in Keams Canyon, Polacca Circle, the Hopi Health Care Center and Shungopavi.
