At least four people are dead and search crews are looking for more possible victims after catastrophic flooding swept through central Arizona late Friday, inundating the historic mining town of Globe and parts of the Phoenix metro area.
Three victims were found in Globe, a city of roughly 7,200 residents about 90 miles east of Phoenix, Gila County emergency manager Carl Melford said. Two were recovered from a submerged vehicle and one from floodwaters. Another victim was discovered Saturday morning near a vehicle that had been swept away in Scottsdale, where crews found the body pinned beneath a bridge after water levels receded overnight, the Scottsdale Fire Department said.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs declared a state of emergency for Gila County, authorizing deployment of the state National Guard for support "as needed," she said during a Saturday evening news conference.
The flooding followed the heaviest single-day rainfall Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport has seen since 2018 - 1.64 inches - the fourth wettest day on record since 2000, according to the National Weather Service. Water surged through Globe's downtown in minutes, overwhelming storm drains and sweeping vehicles into washes. Public Works Director John Angulo said, "There wasn't enough sandbags, there wasn't enough equipment. I don't think there's enough warning that could have helped us prevent what has happened."
One of the first sites struck was a propane distribution facility, scattering roughly 1,000 residential-sized propane tanks throughout the downtown area and onto nearby highways. "There's propane tanks everywhere through downtown Globe," Melford said, adding that hazmat crews were deployed and air quality monitoring is underway. He said several of the tanks were leaking but that "it seems that situation is getting remediated."
City officials declared an emergency and urged residents to stay indoors as search-and-rescue teams with dogs continued grid sweeps for missing persons. "Our primary, again, is search and rescue," Mayor Al Gameros said, warning residents not to enter active search zones.
Damage assessments are underway for Globe's historic district, where officials say some buildings are structurally compromised. Crews from the Arizona Department of Transportation have been called to inspect bridges for potential damage.
Residents described scenes of devastation. Video footage showed torrents of brown water rushing through streets, leaving mud and debris piled high. Resident Greg Bucher posted a video online saying, "Oh my God. I just got downtown Globe, just here this morning and it's a mess. There's propane tanks everywhere."
With additional rain forecast, the National Weather Service issued new flash flood warnings for the region. Officials are urging people to shelter in place and avoid downtown Globe until the area is declared safe.
