Gov. Ducey deploys National Guard troops to Flagstaff to help with flooding

FLAGSTAFF, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) - 30 National Guard members are heading to Flagstaff on Saturday to help with the flash flooding in the region from monsoon rains falling on wildfire burn scars.

Help is on the way to Coconino County. Our number one priority is to ensure our communities are safe and getting the help they need. @CoconinoCounty 1/ https://t.co/wOLnaCwahL
— Doug Ducey (@DougDucey) July 16, 2022

C.J. Karamargin, a spokesperson for Governor’s Office, said that Gov. Ducey got the urgent request asking for the guard’s help on Saturday. “This is a top priority for Governor Ducey,” he said. “When a community is in need, our number one priority is to act quickly. What we are seeing is tragic.” He confirmed that by Sunday, 60 National Guard members will be on the ground, with forty members staying until Friday.

Major Kyle Key, an Arizona National Guard Public Affairs Office, said members are helping to fill sandbags ahead of more potential flooding.

“Today they made five thousand sandbags, and we put those on 65 pallets and got them ready to be put on trucks,” Key said. Key said the goal is to have up to 600,000 sandbags by Friday. “It is a large number, and it is a feat I think that we must complete in order to prepare and to mitigate the dangers of these communities in Coconino County.”

“There are a lot of volunteers that came and helped us put a lot more sandbags here. And the county has been very proactive to help us, so it gives us a level of comfort,” said Randy Miller, who lives in Flagstaff.

Flooding creating issues for second straight day in Flagstaff neighborhoods

NEW: Governor Doug Ducey's office confirms National Guard troops will be sent to Coconino County to help after flooding this week.

30 troops will be on the ground today, a spokesperson tells me. 60 will be in the area tomorrow & some will stay through at least Friday. #azfamily
— Whitney Clark (@whitneyclarktv) July 16, 2022

Karamargin confirmed that a crew from the Department of Corrections will also be there as they have been in the area for a while. The troops’ first task will be to create sandbags to stave off the flooding. To track the emergency warnings and emergency status in the Flagstaff and Coconino County area, click here.

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The Flagstaff area got another round of rain on Friday with washes overflowing and another muddy mess left behind.

On Friday, Arizona’s Family Michael Raimondi went up to northern Arizona where he saw areas of Doney Park hit with flooding and mud. Neighborhoods east of the San Francisco Peaks were surrounding their homes with sandbags. Arizona’s Family was there as Coconino County crews brought in big machines to clear the road.

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