The Arizona National Guard is authorized to deploy in Coconino County to help with flood mitigation.
Soldiers bury 600,000 sandbags after numerous rainstorms hit areas near the pipeline fire scars this week.
After heavy rains caused flash floods, damaged structures, and forced temporary road closures, Coconino County asked the State Military Emergency Service for help with flood mitigation in the Schultz/Pipeline flood area.
Over the next week, 30 to 60 members of the National Guard will be deployed to the area to assist with projects, according to the Arizona Emergency Information Network.
Operations are already underway at both Kingman and Winslow to fill the sandbags with prisoner crews. United Way of Northern Arizona is looking for volunteers to help fill sandbags to meet an estimated need of a total of 80,000 bags for flood mitigation.
A powerful storm on Friday quickly flooded the wash, creating severe flash floods in the Pipeline and Schultz fire scars, threatening communities near Donnie Park, Fernwood, Timberline and the Upaki Trail.
Shortly after 6pm, the City of Flagstaff issued an evacuation order to enclose the Museum Fire Flood Area, which includes Mount Elden Estates, Paradise, Grandview and Sunnyside, as the storm continued to move through the area.
Just the day before, more heavy rains caused downstream flooding in the same high-risk areas. Flooding has become severe enough to temporarily close Route 89 just east of Flagstaff. The flood came the day after about a quarter of an inch of rain fell in the same area.
Sporadic showers and storms are expected Saturday, with heavy rainfall and flash flooding possible, according to the National Weather Service in Flagstaff.
Fire restrictions have been lifted in parts of Yavapai and Coconino counties, including Coconino and Kaibab National Forests, due to frequent rains.
Contact reporter Lacey Latch in Northern Arizona. llatch@gannett.com or on social media @laceylatchNorthern Arizona coverage on azcentral.com and the Republic of Arizona is funded by a grant from the non-profit Report for America and the Vitalyst Health Foundation Associated with the Republic of Arizona.
