Residents of Miami, Arizona, are grappling with the aftermath of severe flash flooding following heavy rainfall that quickly escalated, causing extensive damage to property and infrastructure. FOX 10 Phoenix reported the event as one of the worst the area has seen in years, with water levels rising to the height of car bumpers and leaving roads such as West Sullivan Street blanketed in thick mud.
The flooding yesterday was so sudden and intense that it forced to temporarily entirely shut down U.S. 60 in both directions, as noted in the coverage from AZ Family. The Arizona Department of Transportation indicated that by late afternoon, only one lane was made passable between milepost 243 and milepost 247 to ease some of the traffic disruption. As the community braces for more rainfall, a flood watch remains firmly in effect from this morning through tonight.
Lives were disrupted as the deluge swept through the Globe-Miami area. "It was hard to believe," said Bill Clemmens, owner of the Wild Horses Saloon, in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix, after receiving a distressing call about his property. "But then I looked, and I saw what had happened, that it had just come loose from the concrete, and it fell over." Nearby businesses, including a Walmart in Claypool, were forced to close their doors due to the flooding.
The inundation in Miami wasn't an isolated incident, with a Flash Flood Warning put into place for Globe as well, after storms dumped an intense amount of rain—between 1 to 2 and a half inches, according to the National Weather Service. Photos and video content vividly capturing the situation displayed vehicles submerged and water violently rushing down streets. The community must now band together, as cleanup is expected to take days, with the Arizona’s Family First Alert Weather team warning that the potential for flash flooding to occur again remains distressingly high, especially in southeastern Arizona.
Miami-area residents are stepping up to support one another in recovery efforts, echoing a sentiment of shared resilience. "Neighbors are helping each other with the recovery efforts," described locals in interviews with FOX 10 Phoenix.
