Flooding forces rescues, leaves Dennehotso families displaced

DENNEHOTSO, Ariz.

Community rescuers guided a raft carrying 102-year-old Mary Lou Johnson and Phillip Yazzie Sr. through waist-high floodwaters Thursday before transporting Johnson by wagon to a waiting truck as flooding damaged homes, washed out roads and stranded families here.

Johnson’s daughter, Mary Yazzie, recalled the morning when water began surrounding the family’s home. By about 6 a.m., they were scrambling to move belongings and get everyone to safety. Within half an hour, the water had reached her knees.

Her husband, Phillip Yazzie Sr., depends on supplemental oxygen. Family members gathered his oxygen concentrator and portable equipment as they prepared to leave.

Johnson remained inside the house as the water continued rising.

Mary Yazzie tried to save what she could, moving valuables onto a bed before the flooding became too dangerous. When she opened a door on the north side of the house, water poured inside. Belongings began floating through the rooms.

“All we worried about was what are we going to do,” Yazzie said.

A group of local men used a rope to help guide the raft through the current. Johnson and Phillip waited together in the truck as other family members made their way out of the flooded area.

The raft later returned to the homestead for other family members.

The family eventually reached the home of Julia Richards, the Dennehotso Chapter secretary-treasurer, and waited there until a helicopter arrived.

Johnson, Mary Yazzie, Phillip Yazzie Sr. and their daughter were flown to the Dennehotso Chapter House. They later stayed at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints southwest of the chapter.

The Navajo Police Department reported that emergency personnel rescued 30 people from seven families Thursday, Oct. 22. The response involved Navajo Nation emergency personnel, firefighters, police officers, transportation crews and assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety and Kayenta Fire Department.

Navajo Nation transportation officials reported flooding along roads N6460 and N6461 in Dennehotso Thursday morning as Laguna Creek overflowed its banks, according to the National Weather Service. By early afternoon, homes near those roads were flooded and water rescues were underway.

Kenneth Johnson, the vice president of Dennehotso Chapter, estimated Friday that 40 to 50 people had been affected, although the extent of the damage was still being assessed.

The vice president was among those rescued Thursday after floodwaters reached his property. He encountered water as deep as his chest and vehicles nearly submerged near his home.

Damaged and washed-out roads left other residents stranded, including families whose homes had escaped serious flooding but were inaccessible.

Kenneth Johnson reported that food, water, blankets and other supplies were being distributed to displaced residents. Some families were staying at the chapter house or church, while temporary housing arrangements were being explored.

The flooding also forced 74-year-old Phyllis Yazzie and her son to spend Thursday night inside their vehicle after the roads leading away from their home became impassable.

Yazzie hurriedly packed clothing and important documents when her niece, Marcy Smith Williams, warned her about the rising water.

They attempted to leave but found themselves trapped by flooding in both directions. Unable to get out, they returned to their property and parked their new Kia Sportage on higher ground.

They had only one pillow and one blanket.

As temperatures dropped overnight, they periodically started the vehicle to keep warm before shutting off the engine to conserve fuel. Yazzie estimated that her vehicle had about 14 miles of driving range remaining.

Water continued moving around the property, severely damaging a section of road near her house.

Smith Williams spent the night worrying about her aunt and cousin, who had no way to leave. Her cousin has limited vision, adding to her concerns about their safety.

Rescuers reached them by raft Friday after the floodwater receded enough to allow access.

At the Dennehotso Senior Center, supervisor Jennifer Harrison spoke of families who had been cut off from their homes, including residents who remained stranded because they were unwilling to abandon their livestock.

Harrison and her husband, Nathan, were also affected by the flooding. Water reached their property, preventing them from returning home. Their children were staying with relatives on higher ground.

Local volunteers spent Thursday night helping residents reach safety, delivering supplies and assisting with evacuations. Some continued working into the early morning hours.

Jennifer Harrison credited local volunteers, including Kevin Woolboy, who helped coordinate efforts to reach stranded residents.

Families also brought food and other donations to the community. Harrison saw residents in tears as they spoke about damaged homes and belongings.

Some were worried about sheep and horses left behind, while others had lost access to vehicles and household supplies.

Harrison also reported that one resident had lost his home and vehicles to the floodwater before reaching safety and staying with his daughter in Farmington.

Emma Steve has been unable to return to her home since flooding last year damaged its foundation and left the interior contaminated.

The family initially received temporary lodging in Kayenta for 30 days before moving to Chiiłchinbii’tó, where they have been living while trying to secure a permanent home.

Steve has been working through the homesite lease process, which requires obtaining documents before a new home can be built. Some of the family’s belongings remain inside the damaged house.

Water moved through Emma Steve’s property again during Thursday’s flooding.

Former Council Delegate Nathaniel Brown, who spent Thursday night at the Dennehotso Chapter House with residents, raised concerns about families still waiting for permanent housing after previous floods.

Brown met with residents who remained awake into the early morning hours, worried about their homes and livestock. Some feared their sheep had been swept away.

He pointed to Emma Steve’s experience as an example of the difficulties families face when trying to relocate from areas repeatedly affected by flooding.

Brown called on Diné leaders to consider emergency measures that would help displaced families obtain homesite leases, secure Navajo Housing Authority assistance and move to higher ground. He also called for repairs to damaged roads.

“We don’t want the politicians to just come in and take pictures and leave again and leave it the same,” Brown said.

Emma Steve’s sister, Lucy Steve, also experienced flooding near her trailer. Water was still moving through the property Friday, creating what she compared to a wash or creek.

“That’s the second time that happened,” Lucy Steve said. “But this time it was worse than last year.”

She expected to wait for the ground to dry before returning.

Her medication was running low, and she wanted to return to retrieve it. She also worried about her dog, which had remained at the property.

Kenneth Johnson estimated that repairing damaged homes and roads could cost millions of dollars, although formal assessments had not been completed.

Temporary placements through the NHA and hotel accommodations were being discussed, but Johnson could not confirm arrangements for all displaced families Friday.

Mary Yazzie faced similar uncertainty after her family’s rescue. Although relatives had returned to check the property, the family still could not remove its vehicles from the mud, and the flooded house needed repairs.

She expected to spend two nights at a hotel in Kayenta and hoped to secure additional temporary housing while working on the home.

“They said at least they gave me a place for 30 days. And then after that you’re on your own,” she added.

---