Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has issued a State of Emergency declaration for both Gila and Maricopa Counties following the havoc wreaked by severe weather earlier this month. The extreme conditions, spurred on by Hurricane Priscilla and Tropical Storm Raymond, have resulted in considerable displacement of families and inflicted damage upon homes and businesses across the region. The declaration, announced on Sunday, is set to activate urgent state resources aimed at assisting the impacted communities with their recovery efforts, as reported by the Office of the Governor.
In the wake of the emergency declaration, a fund amounting to $200,000 from the Governor's Emergency Fund was immediately designated to support the affected areas. The Arizona Division of Emergency Management is to directly oversee the allocation of these funds. Governor Hobbs has managed to quickly respond by directing the Arizona Department of Transportation to actively seek further aid from the Federal Highway Administration in order to expedite crucial repairs to the compromised roadways. "My thoughts are with all of the Arizona communities impacted by the recent heavy rains and flooding," Governor Hobbs said in a statement. "We are committed to helping Arizonans access the resources they need to recover. I’m grateful to everyone who is supporting our neighbors and contributing to the ongoing response," she added, according to the Office of the Governor official statement.
The initial emergency declaration, made on September 27 for Gila County, has also been amended to include Mohave County, which has similarly suffered significant damage to both private property and public infrastructure due to intense rain and subsequent flooding. This extension of the emergency status underscores the widespread impact of the extreme weather conditions and the state government's recognition of the need for a broader response, as per the Office of the Governor.
The State Emergency Operations Center is still working hard to share information and coordinate resources to help with the disaster response. Emergency declarations have been issued for Gila and Maricopa counties, and an updated declaration now also includes Mohave County. You can read the full details of these declarations on the Office of the Governor's website by following the links provided.
