Coordinating with Businesses and Cities to Provide Resources and Information
Dear Neighbors,
In anticipation of heavy rainfall due to Hurricane Odile converging with monsoon moisture, the Flood Control District of Maricopa County is urging valley residents to be prepared for another round of storm events and flash floods.
At this time it is unknown if the remnants of Odile will continue its current path towards Phoenix or shift to the east. Either way, the county will likely experience heavy rain so residents should be ready.
“Information is one of the most powerful tools at our disposal as we prepare for these upcoming storms,” said Denny Barney, Chairman of the Flood Control District and District 1 Supervisor. “We are working with cities, towns and agencies countywide to make sure that information about storm preparation and recovery is available and easily accessible.”
Similar to the storm that occurred on Monday, September 8, the abundance of tropical moisture combined with monsoon thunderstorms could mean widespread flash floods and a large amount of rain in a short period of time.
Staff at the District says that there are things that you can do today. These items include:
- Cleaning out drainage ditches and drainage pipes
- Securing or removing personal property that is in an area where storm water flows
- Raising property on blocks in and around your home
- Getting sand and preparing sand bags
- Contact your insurance agent to check your flood insurance coverage
“We want to make sure that our citizens are safe and they take the necessary steps to protect their property,” said Steve Chucri, who represents District 2 on the board. “While we are confident that our county flood control structures will operate as designed, citizens may still experience localized flooding if rain falls hard in their particular neighborhood.”
Please check the Arizona Emergency Information Network (AZEIN) for the latest information on emergency centers and storm resources. Maricopa County and the Flood Control District’s websites will post information as soon as it becomes available. Accessing fcd.maricopa.gov link from your mobile device will launch the District’s mobile tool which residents can use to obtain rainfall data and stream flow information.
“We are preparing for similar weather to what was experienced last week,” said Bill Wiley, Chief Engineer and General Manager of the Flood Control District. “We urge county residents to be proactive in preparation for this storm. Although we can’t predict what areas will be impacted, everyone should have a flood readiness action plan and be ready to put it into action if needed.”
The following members of the Arizona Rock Products Association have generously donated sand to local fire departments: M.R. Tanner Mining, Hanson Aggregates, CEMEX, Vulcan, Arizona Materials, Drake, and SRMG.
Residents who need to bag sand should contact their city to coordinate their bagging efforts: Carefree, Cave Creek, Fountain Hills, Apache Junction, Gilbert, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa.
Drake Materials, Arizona Rock Products Association Member, will have sand (and a limited number of sand bags available) for residents to shovel what they need. Hours of operation are 5:30 am to 1:30 pm. The location in Mesa is:
1800 North Alma School Road, Mesa, AZ 85201
Access is from Alma School Road immediately north of the Red Mountain Freeway
Here are additional reminders to help keep you safe during monsoon storms:
- Stay informed and ahead of the storm by checking the local weather forecasts
- Do not enter flooded intersections or washes
- If you accidentally drive onto a flood street, turn around if you can do so safely
The District encourages residents who witness flooding in their area to report it at http://reportaflood.org, a site used by the District to identify flooding throughout the county.
Sincerely,
Steve Chucri, District 2
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors
www.maricopa.gov/steve
(602) 506-7431
