GLOBE, Ariz. — Four individuals lost their lives due to severe rainfall that led to flooding across Arizona, including three fatalities in a historic 19th-century mining town. On Friday, floodwaters forced residents to find refuge on rooftops and caused a propane facility to wash out, dispersing approximately 1,000 tanks in the town center.
In Globe, a community of around 7,250 residents located roughly 88 miles east of Phoenix, approximately 2.5 inches of rain poured within a 24-hour period. An additional storm arrived on Saturday, momentarily suspending the search for potential flood victims because streams were rapidly flowing.
The neighboring town of Miami experienced street flooding on Saturday, though, as reported by Carl Melford, the emergency manager in Gila County, no injuries occurred. In the meantime, about 20 tourists who were trapped in flood-affected areas of the Havasupai Reservation, including the renowned Havasu Falls, were successfully evacuated, according to Shaileen Gonzales, a dispatcher with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
This remote reservation can only be accessed by foot, mule, or helicopter and is situated deep within a canyon off the Grand Canyon. Known worldwide for its stunning, towering blue-green waterfalls, the area is susceptible to flooding.
In Globe, authorities located the bodies of two individuals inside a vehicle and another person in the floodwaters, as stated by Melford. The identities of these individuals were not immediately released.
Another fatality was discovered on Saturday morning near a vehicle entangled in floodwaters in suburban Phoenix the previous night. Initially, the vehicle was seen partially submerged in approximately 8 feet of swift-moving water on Friday evening in a park’s greenbelt area, according to the Scottsdale Fire Department. Once water levels slightly receded overnight, crews found the body of an individual trapped beneath a pedestrian bridge, as confirmed by the department.
In the rural community of Globe, one of Arizona’s oldest mining towns, sheriffs’ officials were looking into reports of people who may be missing, Melford said, but could not specify a number.
“We now have a massive search and rescue underway,” he said.
Rain poured down and quickly flooded the downtown area Friday, Melford said. One of the first areas hit was a propane tank distributor, sending about 1,000 residential-size tanks throughout the community, he said.
“There’s propane tanks everywhere through downtown Globe,” he said, adding that hazmat workers have been sent to the scene. “Luckily none of them ignited or exploded.”
The area previously experienced flooding in 2021 after a wildfire, but it didn’t happen like this, Melford said. The city is near canyons that can funnel water from the mountains into the community very quickly.
“This was an extremely heavy amount of rain in an extremely short period of time,” he said.
Videos shared on social media show vehicles in Globe being swept away by rushing, muddy water, with some smashed up against poles and large propane tanks scattered around.
Authorities are asking residents to not go out searching in the floodwaters because search and rescue officials are accompanied by dogs who might pick up the scent of aspiring volunteers instead of possible flood victims. If people want to help, they should start by assisting friends and neighbors in need, Melford said.
Globe city council members declared an emergency, saying they have never seen anything like the flooding.
Scores of people have stepped up to volunteer, said Mayor Al Gameros, adding that many buildings in the community’s downtown have been damaged. Officials asked people to stay away from the area until they could ensure it is safe to go in there.
“Our primary, again, is search and rescue,” Gameros said Saturday.
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