Monsoon Rains Expected In Northern Arizona Through The Weekend, Flooding Possible In Some Areas

The Monsoon season has a strangle hold on Northern Arizona. The National Weather Service is calling for a 70-percent of showers and thunderstorms, most days, through at least Sunday in Flagstaff. Any heavy rainfall on the Museum Fire burn area will lead to more flooding for Mount Elden Estates, Grandview, Paradise and Sunnyside. Doney Park has seen a significant rainfall over the last week as well. Coconino County officials reminds those in the Museum Fire burn area to not remove sandbags from their property. Removing sandbags from barriers and the other mitigation measures places your home and others at greater risk for flooding. Over the last week, the Coconino County Flood Control District’s existing stockpile of approximately 75-thousand sandbags have been fully deployed and utilized by community members. 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. For those needed sandbags, pre-filled ones may be available. However, residents should be prepared to fill their own sandbags. 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. Sand is available at Coconino High School or the Coconino County Health and Human Services building on King Street. For more information, log onto coconino.az.gov/2134/Sandbag-Information.