Coconino County and Flagstaff officials last week thanked state agencies for their help in dealing with recent flooding and fire problems.
With the area facing multiple wildfires near Flagstaff and the effects of recurring flooding, local officials said without assistance and funding from the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM), a He said this level of response was not possible. Ministry of Emergency Military Affairs (DEMA).
“I think it is very important that the government got it right about what we are talking about today. County Emergency Management Director Wes Dison said. “We can’t do it alone. We can’t do it anymore. We need broader partnerships with state and federal partners.”
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Part of Schultz Street and Chimney Trail will be closed to vehicles due to the construction.
Support from state agencies includes $5 million in compensation to Coconino County for post-fire flooding through the summer of 2022. The county spent him $9 million through that effort.
These agencies also provided $10.8 million to support long-term flood mitigation efforts. Much of that funding was approved after he passed a 2001 House bill two years ago. The money is used by counties and cities to clean gutters and roads, buy sandbags and heavy equipment for engineering research.
Part of Schultz Street and Chimney Trail will be closed to vehicles due to the construction.
The money is also being used to finance the construction of new flood infrastructure, including three detention ponds near Schultz “Y” that were built after the pipeline fires last summer.
Disson, Coconino County Chairman Patrice Horstman and Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett said Friday, standing just yards from three basins surrounded by heavy equipment such as pump trucks and front-end loaders. He thanked state officials at the event.
DFFM Director Tom Torres said, “It’s so nice to see here and see the work that’s actually been done in the field.” “This is what success looks like when we’re talking about big investments. Whether it’s local money, state money, or federal money, this is what success looks like.”
Disson said local officials and field staff were able to develop excellent relationships and processes to obtain funding and reimbursement from state agencies in a timely and efficient manner.
“[We] Some of them were refunded in the same week. This is unheard of in government,” said Dison. “We would like to collectively thank DFFM and DEMA for what they have done here that will make us better prepared for whatever we may face this year and in the years to come. will do well.”
State officials were able to help local partners, such as Coconino County and the city of Flagstaff, in part because guidance from the governor’s office gave them broad discretion over how to help. said.
