Local
Flooding prompts rescue of seven families in Navajo community of Dennehotso
Emergency crews rescued 30 people from homes in Dennehotso after heavy flooding Thursday afternoon. Navajo Nation responders and state and local agencies used an all-terrain vehicle and other resources to reach residents.
DENNEHOTSO, Ariz. — Emergency crews rescued 30 people from seven families’ homes Thursday afternoon as heavy flooding struck Dennehotso, a Navajo Nation community along State Route 160 in Arizona’s Four Corners region.
The Navajo Department of Emergency Management sent a SHERP, an all-terrain rescue vehicle, to help responders reach homes through flooded areas. The Arizona Department of Public Safety also brought in a Ranger helicopter, according to information accompanying footage shared by the Navajo Police Department.
Navajo Nation Fire & Rescue Services, Navajo EMS, the Navajo Nation Division of Transportation and the Kayenta Fire Department also assisted in the operation.
The flooding came amid a week of severe weather across Arizona. Storms caused damage in communities elsewhere in the state, including reported tornado-related destruction in Heber-Overgaard and flooding and rockslides in Clifton. The Dennehotso rescue underscores the risks faced by residents when intense storms inundate homes and roads in remote communities.