Families rescued from flooded Navajo Nation homes as Phoenix sees light rain

Metro Phoenix recorded some rain despite Thursday’s flood watch, while farther north, flooding forced crews to rescue 30 people from homes in a Navajo Nation community.

Seven families needed help getting to safety Thursday night in Dennehotso, a community in Apache County, according to the Navajo Police Department.

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said flooding also left several elders stranded. Emergency crews were prioritizing evacuations for elders, people with medical needs and families requiring urgent assistance.

Additional rescue resources sent after rescues from flooded homes in Dennehotso

Nygren said a helicopter was on its way to reach stranded elders who could not be safely accessed by ground crews. A specialized SHERP rescue vehicle was also being sent from Window Rock to help crews reach flooded and difficult-to-access areas.

More than 1,000 sandbags had been delivered through a partnership between the president’s office and the Navajo Nation Division of Emergency Management, Nygren said.

The division coordinated the response with emergency medical services, firefighters, Navajo Police and the Navajo Department of Transportation. The Kayenta Fire Department and Arizona Department of Public Safety air rescue crews also assisted.

The Dennehotso Chapter House was serving as the emergency command center. Nygren said the community center was open, but water was unavailable at the facility as of Thursday night.

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