Climateupdated 52m ago2 min read
MapPrescott Mayor Cathey Rusing Declares State Of Emergency After Watson Lake Dam Overtops
3 Other2 Western Mainstream1 Local WesternMap: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL · Cropped for layout
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Prescott Mayor Cathey Rusing declares state of emergency amid widespread flooding Watson Lake Dam overtopped as heavy rainfall triggered flooding; EOC activated at 8 a.m.
Save coverage image
6 outlets told this the same way.
Outlets did split on UK Home Office Cancels Andreas Malm’s ETA Before London Panel With Palestine Action →
Prescott declares emergency
Prescott Mayor Cathey Rusing proclaimed a state of emergency after heavy, continuous rainfall caused significant flooding across the city and overtopped Watson Lake Dam on Sunday.
The City of Prescott activated its Emergency Operations Center at 8 a.m. and coordinated the emergency response across all city departments while it coordinated with Yavapai County and the state of Arizona.
City officials said Watson Lake Dam, also known as Granite Dam, overtopped Sunday and that the dam is rated to handle water flowing up to 10 feet over the top.
City officials said water flowing into Watson Lake peaked at more than 4,000 cubic feet per second and then fell to about 1,680 cubic feet per second.
The National Weather Service issued a Flood Watch for Yavapai County on Thursday, Oct. 29, warning of flash flooding from heavy rain on already saturated ground.
Dam operations and closures
The City’s Public Works Department opened Watson Lake’s 36-inch release valve and the crosscut channel to Willow Lake before the storms to lower the reservoir and make room for incoming stormwater. City officials said saturated ground, especially in the mountains, produced two to three times the normal runoff, and they said flows have since dropped to about 1,680 cubic feet per second. The City reported that Willow Lake Dam was 7.5 feet below its spillway and that it had no structural concerns there while Upper Goldwater Reservoir had also topped.
All low water crossings in the city were closed, and the City listed road closures including Sixth Street and Sonora Drive at Campbell Street. The City also closed Granite Creek Park and urged drivers to treat any signal that isn’t working as a four-way stop and to use caution.
Shelter, rescues, and risk
Yavapai County and the American Red Cross opened a shelter for people displaced by floodwater at the Yavapai College Prescott Campus Gymnasium, 1100 E. Sheldon, Prescott, AZ 86301.
The City directed residents to call 911 for life-threatening emergencies and to call the Yavapai County Emergency Management phone bank at 928-442-5103 for non-emergency flood calls.
In Phoenix, the Phoenix Fire Department released video showing first responders pulling people from a car trapped in high water in the Camelback East Village area, near the Arizona Canal.
FOX Weather said at least 6 people were rescued in Phoenix after intense storms triggered flash flooding, and it said the flood threat would increase for Central Arizona and other parts of the Four Corners through the weekend.
FOX Weather also reported a Level 3 flash flood risk covering parts of northern and Central Arizona on Sunday, including Prescott, and it said a Flood Watch is in effect across most of the state through Tuesday.