Arizona floods: Person missing in Flagstaff; evacuations in Sedona, other sites

Flooding that stranded visitors at Tucson’s Sabino Canyon Recreation Area Sunday was part of a wider storm emergency that swept across Arizona, closing roads, forcing evacuations and prompting rescues from Flagstaff to Sedona, Camp Verde and Gila County. U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officers were helping people trapped at the popular canyon as water rushed through the recreation area. Officials warned visitors not to cross washes, flooded roads or low water crossings, where moving water can quickly become dangerous.

The storm also created risks for Tucson residents traveling north for work, recreation or holiday weekend trips. The Arizona Department of Transportation closed several highways because of heavy rain, flooding and rockfall. Interstate 17 was later reopened in both directions, but State Route 89A remained closed between Sedona and Kachina Village, State Route 73 was closed between Indian Pine and White River, and State Route 238 was closed between Maricopa and Gila Bend. Travelers were directed to check az511.gov, the AZ511 app or 511 before leaving.

In Flagstaff, what began as a search Sunday night ended with the discovery of a body Monday. Police and firefighters were called shortly before 6 p.m. Nov. 1 to South Malpais Lane and West Clay Avenue after a man reportedly lost his footing near fast moving water, fell in and did not resurface. Search crews continued working through the night, while city officials asked residents to stay away from the area so responders could operate safely.

On Nov. 2, police said an unresponsive man was found near East Ellery Avenue and South W.C. Riles Street. Responders determined he was the person who had fallen into the floodwater. He was identified as Williams Singavarapu, 73, of New York, and was pronounced dead. Flagstaff police also reported a separate death that may have been connected to the storm. A man was found shortly before 8:30 a.m. in a stormwater drainage area near North Highway 89 and Lynch Avenue. Authorities said the circumstances remained under investigation and had not established an official cause or manner of death.

Flooding affected much of Flagstaff’s Southside neighborhood Sunday, including portions of Route 66, South Milton Road and Butler Avenue. City officials urged people to remain home and avoid travel, saying public safety teams were at capacity while responding to emergencies. Police emphasized that floodwater may be deeper and faster than it appears, and that just six inches of moving water can knock an adult off balance. Residents were told not to walk, drive or play in or near flowing water.

Sedona faced some of the most intensive rescue activity. Flash flooding in Oak Creek Canyon prompted mandatory evacuation orders at 7:45 a.m. for Zones 8, 9 and 10, with evacuees directed to Sedona Red Rock High School. The city told residents to avoid creek beds and washes and never cross a road covered by rushing water. Videos released by the Sedona Fire Department showed vehicles caught in floodwater and water rising close to the entrances of homes.

The governor’s office said state emergency crews had carried out six rooftop evacuations in Sedona by Sunday afternoon, with additional rescues expected as residents became trapped inside homes. The Sedona Fire Department requested more personnel because of the number of rescue operations underway. The flooding was severe enough that vehicles were surrounded and some residents needed to be removed from buildings by emergency crews rather than leave by road.

Evacuation warnings and orders extended into central and eastern Arizona. In Camp Verde, officials ordered residents near the Verde River, West Clear Creek and Wet Beaver Creek to leave immediately. A temporary shelter opened at the Camp Verde Parks and Recreation Gym near Main and Hollamon streets. Clarkdale officials asked people living near the river on Siesta, River Drive, Rincon, Rio and the Farm at Bent River to be ready to evacuate. The town opened a shelter at the Town Hall Clubhouse near Main and Ninth streets and closed the Tuzigoot River Access Point and Lower TAPCO River Access Point.

In Gila County, the entire community of Gisela was placed under an immediate evacuation request, while officials worked to open a shelter in Payson. The Gisela Community Center remained available to local residents. In Tonto Basin, “go” status applied to Greenback Valley RV Park, the lower end of Lazy JR and the lower end of Sleepy Hollow RV Park, with residents directed to Tonto Basin Elementary School. The National Weather Service office in Flagstaff had warned Oct. 31 that overnight flooding was possible, and a flood warning was issued to northern Arizona residents at 5:37 a.m. Nov. 1. Officials across the state continued urging people to avoid washes, flooded roads and low water crossings, and told anyone facing an immediate emergency to call 911.