Two people died when they were swept away by waters in Pinal and Pima counties.
The storms resulted in significant impacts to transportation infrastructure throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area in Maricopa County, including the closure of State Route 51, Interstate 10 and 17 and U.S. Route 60. The heavy rains also took lives, caused residential damages, forced evacuations in La Paz County and required emergency response search and rescue missions, including the American Red Cross opening shelters in Maricopa and La Paz Counties.
The threat of flooding remains high due to heavily saturated soils and the anticipation of additional waves of precipitation.
Governor Brewer is authorized under to A.R.S. § 26-303(D) to declare a State of Emergency to provide financial support for eligible response and recovery costs. Maricopa and La Paz Counties have declared a state of emergency and are requesting the state’s financial assistance to recover from the flooding.
The Governor’s Declaration:
a. Declares that a State of Emergency exists in Maricopa and La Paz Counties due to flooding, effective September 8, 2014; and
b. Acknowledges that this weather system is still passing through the State of Arizona, and will be amended to include additional counties as the situation requires; and
c. Directs that the sum of $200,000 from the general fund be made available to the Director of the Arizona Division of Emergency Management; and
d. Directs that the State of Arizona Emergency Response and Recovery Plan be used to direct and control state and other assets and authorize the Director of the Arizona Division of Emergency Management to coordinate state assets; and
e. Authorizes the Adjutant General to mobilize and call to activate all or such part of the Arizona National Guard as is determined necessary to assist in the protection of life and property throughout the State.
Preliminary damage assessments will be scheduled by the Arizona Department of Emergency Management’s Recovery Office in conjunction with the counties, as requested. Response costs and damage to public infrastructure have not yet been estimated by the counties.