2 dead as 8 inches of rain trigger Arizona emergency

Rain continued to fall over parts of Arizona on Monday, prompting state and local leaders to declare states of emergency. The orders follow a weekend of heavy precipitation that caused flash flooding, rockfalls, and the closure of major highways.

Gov. Katie Hobbs issued the state-level declaration to support rescue and recovery operations. Her order provides access to $200,000 in emergency funding for affected communities. The declaration covers portions of Apache, Coconino, Gila, Greenlee, Navajo, Pinal, and Yavapai counties. It also includes the Hopi Tribe, the Navajo Nation, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, and the White Mountain Apache Tribe.

“The safety and security of every Arizonan is my top priority,” Hobbs said in a news release. She stated the declaration ensures local authorities have resources to clear roads, repair infrastructure, and assist displaced residents.

Maricopa County officials separately declared a local emergency for unincorporated areas. County data showed rain totals ranging from 1 to 4 inches in lower elevations, with higher areas receiving up to 8 inches. Apache County also issued its own state of emergency, citing continuous rain that created hazardous flooding and threatened access to essential services.

Two people were found dead Monday morning after floodwaters swept through Flagstaff over the weekend. State and local agencies remained on site, working to clear roads and allow residents to return home. In Prescott, water levels along local waterways stayed elevated, keeping the city under a state of emergency despite lower flood levels than other regions.

Officials asked residents in flooded zones to exercise extreme caution. They warned drivers to never drive through flooded roads or washes. Water rescues had been conducted in several communities as rapidly rising forces displaced residents from their homes.