Photo Credit: Paul Schulz: Lightning strikes in the distance before Monday night’s storm rains. Sandbags are provided free of charge to the public to help with potential flooding problems.

John Johnson

john johnson news@gmail.com

Safford – With monsoon rains causing localized flooding and more rain expected, the City of Safford is providing sand and sandbags free of charge to the public.

Those wishing to fill up to five bags per household should visit the Public Works Office at 220 W. Discovery Park Blvd., according to the city’s website. Bag recipients can sand in west of the City Mesa Yard Office Complex at 405 W. Discovery Park Blvd.

Bags are available Monday through Thursday from 6am to 4pm. In the event of a flood emergency, call the public works on-call number at (928) 965-9668.

In the town of Thatcher, anyone who needs sandbags can bring five and fill them up at any time at the town’s Public Works Yard on Reay Lane. If the situation is more serious, you can take more sandbags.

Graham County previously announced the availability of sandbags for the public at the Graham County Fairgrounds at 527 E. Armory Rd.

Heavy monsoon storms hit the Morenci/Clifton area, with significant amounts of rain falling in Duncan and the Gila Valley late Monday night.

East of Safford, the Arizona Weather Network said the area got 0.20 inches of rain on Sunday and 0.81 inches on Monday, bringing the total to 3.67 inches for the year. So far, this monsoon has had just over 2 inches of precipitation measured by the station since June 24th.