As the threat of flash floods looms over Texas, Arizona's search and rescue teams weigh in on the hazards these sudden deluges pose and share essential safety tips, reflection on past incidents in Arizona where such calamities have led to loss of life. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, Arizona has experienced its share of flash flood tragedies, including the 2017 Payson event that claimed 10 lives and the 2019 Tonto Basin flood that swept away three children, highlighting the deceptive nature of clear skies when storms can ignite torrents miles away and send them crashing down canyons.
Captain Bobby Dubnow of Phoenix Fire, who has experience with natural disasters in Texas, shared his condolences for the ongoing crisis and pointed out the challenges smaller, volunteer-based agencies face when combating these sudden floods, "It’s absolutely tragic to see what’s going on there," Dubnow told AZFamily, also noting that because it's still raining and flash floods continue to occur the crews are unable to get ahead of the situation; meanwhile, Dave Rossi, a Rescue Technician for the Central Arizona Mountain Rescue Association (CAMRA), emphasized the need for emergency teams to have multiple contingency plans due to the unpredictability of flash floods, while mentioning past flood events in Arizona towns like Gila Bend and Apache Junction.
In regions like the Verde River near Water Wheel Recreation Center, the site of a deadly Arizona flash flood, the absence of early warning systems and lingering debris from previous floods underscore the vulnerabilities of such remote areas. Ken Flickinger, vice commander of Tonto Rim Search and Rescue, emphasized preparedness, "I have crates that are marked rope rescue, swift water, helicopter, all the teams that I'm involved in and then our every day, you know, just get out onto the trails," Flickinger said in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix.
Rescue professionals like Dubnow and Rossi urge residents to heed flood warnings and adopt the mantra "Turn around, Don't drown." In a dire situation where one is caught in a flash flood, their advice is to seek higher ground immediately whether it be climbing a tree or ascending to the roof of a house, "It’s pretty imperative to avoid grabbing onto anything that looks like a floating fence, probably a vehicle because it can dislodge and go down with you, and anything that looks like a wire," Rossi told AZFamily. Additionally, the Red Cross in Arizona is on standby, ready to assist families displaced by the floods in Texas if necessary.
For those seeking more information on how to stay safe during flash floods, resources are available; learning to recognize and respect the power of swift water could make the difference between life and death in these treacherous situations.
