SEDONA, Arizona (AP) — As heavy rains began in northern Arizona, some evacuation orders were lifted while the rest remained on Wednesday, but the threat of flooding lingered.
Officials with the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said Sedona residents can return home after determining that the water level in Oak Creek has dropped sufficiently, but be prepared to evacuate if necessary. Said I should.
In nearby Cornville, lowlanders along Oak Creek were also told to consider or be prepared to evacuate.
Residents are on the lookout for flooded properties on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, when a local stream flooded Lake Montezuma, Arizona. Parts of north-central Arizona were being evacuated Wednesday because of flooding. (Vyto Starinskas/The Daily Courier via AP)
Meanwhile, residents of the area where Camp Verde is located were told to evacuate due to flooding in the lowlands along the Verde River. A shelter has been set up.
Over the past two days, officials say increased flooding has made some areas of the Sedona and Cottonwood areas unsafe.
Parts of Black Canyon City were also ordered to evacuate, including an RV park along the Agua Julia River in Yavapai County.
The National Weather Service in Flagstaff said Wednesday afternoon that there will be excessive runoff even if the storm appears to have abated. People are urged to stay away from fast-flowing rivers and streams and avoid crossing flooded roads.
The city of Prescott in Yavapai County has also warned residents to stay off certain streams and creeks due to potential pollution. Storms have increased the flow of sewers, bringing domestic and commercial sewage to his two wastewater facilities.
However, city officials said in a news release that the sewer system had been “extended to maximum capacity” due to rainwater and snowmelt. The crew has been trying to keep the water flowing, but the manhole near Granite Creek has exceeded its capacity.
Officials say crews will begin disinfecting all affected areas after the tide recedes.
Weather conditions have already forced some roads and low-water intersections to close.
Salt River Project officials said the storm forced them to increase water discharge from two reservoirs on the Verde River.
The reservoir is already over 80% full.
A recent study found that the 13,000-square-mile (34,000-square-kilometer) watershed draining into these Verde Reservoirs has the deepest snow cover in 30 years.
Serving primarily central Arizona, the Salt River Project operates by strategically releasing water from dams on the Salt and Verde rivers into a network of canals.
