Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has declared a state of emergency for Navajo and Coconino counties after storms knocked out power, blocked roads, and damaged property, according to an Oct. 30 release from her office.
The order makes $200,000 from the state’s general fund available for response and recovery work through the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs.
The aid follows three days of heavy rain, hail, strong winds, and tornadoes from Oct. 20 through Oct. 22.
Navajo County asked the state for financial help Oct. 28 after the storms damaged public and private property and raised concerns about public health and safety.
“My thoughts are with all of the Arizona communities impacted by last week’s tornadoes and storms,” Hobbs said. “I am committed to making sure each community has the resources it needs to continue recovering, and am thankful to everyone who is supporting ongoing recovery efforts.”
Hobbs visited Heber-Overgaard on Oct. 29 to hear from state, county and local officials about the damage and recovery work.
Emergency managers and fire officials briefed her on how crews responded, how quickly help arrived and what the state had done.
She also thanked volunteers from search and rescue teams, the sheriff’s posse, the Heber-Overgaard Community Resource Network, Arizona Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and the American Red Cross.
State and local agencies worked together on welfare checks and recovery plans following the damaging storms.
Historic Weather Outbreak
Three confirmed EF1 tornadoes brought winds above 100 mph near Wing Mountain, northwest of Flagstaff; Heber-Overgaard; and Spruce Mountain, south of Prescott in Yavapai County.
The weather service called the outbreak Arizona’s most significant severe weather event since early October 2010.
In Chandler and Mesa, an Oct. 20 storm dropped hail up to 2 inches wide and toppled trees, according to the weather service. Fallen trees and branches damaged vehicles and carports at a Mesa apartment complex.
A stronger storm struck central Phoenix the next afternoon. Hail dented vehicles, broke auto glass and shattered house windows, while winds above 60 mph uprooted large trees.
A strong low-pressure system brought unusually wet air into the region, helping fuel the storms. The fast-moving storm kept heavy rain from lingering in one location, limiting the spread of flooding.
Forecasters issued 158 severe thunderstorm warnings, 16 tornado warnings and 11 flash flood warnings statewide during the three days.
The office listed a flood watch through 10 p.m. Oct. 30 and another from the night of Oct. 31 through to early Nov. 2.
A Pacific weather system was expected to bring a fresh surge of moisture, with heavy rain raising the risk of flooding on saturated ground, according to the Flagstaff office.
