State of emergency declared due to storms
Navajo Times
WINDOW ROCK, Aug. 5, 2010
The Commission on Emergency Management declared the emergency because of the recent flooding and other problems created by monsoon rains.
According to Selena Manychildren, public information officer for the Division of Health's public health emergency preparedness program, torrential rain and lightning took the lives of three people this week.
An 89-year-old woman from Rock Point, Ariz., died after the log and mud roof of her hogan collapsed on her.
Lightning strikes killed a 17-year-old female who was visiting relatives in Cameron, Ariz., and a man who was fixing a roof in Kayenta.
Manychildren reported evacuations of the New Mexico communities of Red Valley and Cove because of tornado warnings late Tuesday night.
Residents along the Little Colorado River have been evacuated because of flooding.
She stated that tornado activity was reported near Many Farms and Chinle but that there were no structural damages.
Manychildren also reported roads and bridges were washed out by storms.
"While the rainfall is a blessing during this drought, the recent heavy rainfall has led to road washouts in several communities," she stated. "Motorists and pedestrians are advised not to cross flooded roadways, bridges, arroyos and washes."
A bridge in Church Rock, N.M., was washed away twice since Saturday. Many rural roads are impassable because of exposed culverts, floods and debris. Several vehicles have been damaged because of flash floods.
Manychildren stated that storm runoff will continue to increase water flowing through the Chinle Wash.
The Chinle Police District has established an incident command post at the Chinle High School Wildcat Den and a shelter for evacuees at the Chinle Community Center.
The dam safety program reported that all reservation dams are safe but that the water level is being lowered in Tsaile Lake as a precautionary measure. The lake empties into Canyon de Chelly.
Church Rock has been among the most severely affected chapters.
McKinley County officials said when a portion of the bridge went out, several roads in the area were flooded. No injuries were reported but several families said the water filled up arroyos that run between their homes and the main road into Gallup.
The area most affected was behind the El Paso transmission station where two dozen Navajo families live, many without water or electricity.
While it's not uncommon for the road to wash out during heavy rain, residents told emergency officials that the continued rains - which hit Church Rock repeatedly over a three-day period - have made it impossible to drive to their homes, even in four-wheel drive vehicles.
Families who were struck on the north side of the bridge have had no recourse but to stay home, while those on the other side have been required to either rent motel rooms or stay with relatives or friends.
Families in Low Mountain, Ariz., on the other hand, on Wednesday were in their third day without water.
Deenise Becenti, a spokeswoman for Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, said mud has prevented NTUA crews from getting to areas in the chapter to fix a water main break - the rains have made it so muddy that NTUA's heavy trucks can get where they're needed.
NTUA brought in a water tanker to provide drinking water for community residents and on Wednesday afternoon Becenti said water service had been restored to the Low Mountain area.
NTUA has also deployed a water truck in Church Rock after seven breaks in water mains occurred there.
"We hope to have that service restored by late Wednesday," Becenti said Wednesday afternoon.
Repairs were hampered because Navajo Nation Police were not allowing anyone into the area Tuesday, not even repair crews, because of fear of more rain and flooding, she said.
In total, said Becenti, about 1,000 reservation residents have been inconvenienced because of water main breaks in the past week, most related to the weather.
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