Surprise Mayor Kevin Sartor Declares June 8-15 Monsoon Awareness Week Amid Rising Heat

As the heat begins to rise across Surprise, Mayor Kevin Sartor isn't taking any chances with the pending monsoon season. Instead, he's stepping up the charge by declaring June 8-15 as Monsoon Awareness Week. Sartor's declaration is more than just another proclamation. It's a call to action for residents to prepare for what can often be a treacherous time of year.

With the monsoon season set to officially thunder in from June 15 through September 30, anyone living in Surprise knows to expect a dramatic mix of thunderstorms, lightning, and potentially dangerous high winds and flash floods. The Mayor's move, as reported by the City of Surprise website, is not to alarm but to ensure that the denizens of this Arizona city are ready to safely hunker down when the skies decide to suddenly open up.

Part and parcel of the city's preparedness push is the My Surprise app, touted as a crucial tool for residents to quickly report post-storm issues like downed trees or clogged storm drains. This isn't just about keeping the streets clean; it's about recovery and resilience. The emphasis, according to the Mayor’s proclamation, is on residents being proactive – downloading the app from either the Apple or Android stores and familiarizing themselves with its report features could make all the difference in the aftermath of a storm.

Common sense tips for monsoon season safety are being re-emphasized, from the comfort of home safety, like turning off unnecessary power equipment to help prevent damage from power surges, to the knowledge necessary to avoid driving through suddenly flooded roadways. Clear advice on what to do if caught while driving in a dust storm, extensively, slow down and pull off to the side, turning off your vehicle's engine and lights, is part of the city’s proactive planning. Surprise residents are strongly advised to "Never attempt to drive through flooded intersections or roadways!" and instead, are encouraged to safely turn around and find an alternate route.

If the distant rumble of a monsoon storm is heard, residents should not only secure their homes but also be in the know on where to get sandbags. The city offers sand and bags free of charge at various locations, details of which can be found on the dedicated monsoon page of the City's website. Hoping to avoid a situation where the waters run high and the defenses run low, the message is declarative: Bring your own shovel and be prepared.