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Coconino County residents describe repeated flooding, urge action
Summary
Several residents told a Coconino County meeting that repeated heavy-rain flooding and post-wildfire erosion have damaged homes, deposited silt, and left people anxious; speakers called the problems among the county's top public safety threats and urged officials to act.
Residents at a Coconino County meeting described repeated flood damage to homes after heavy rain and urged county officials to address runoff and post-wildfire erosion.
“This is the third warning now that we've got in just since the rain has started coming down. Okay. Here it comes. They are slowly. Water's gonna breach on the corners to the very top,” said Resident 1 during public comment, recounting an ongoing flooding event.
The speakers said flooding has happened multiple times. “What's going through your mind right now? it just it's terrifying. It happens. It's the fourth time that this has come through, and every time is worse,” said Resident 1, who described rushing home to run pumps and rebuild walls as water reached houses. Another commenter said, “the silt went all the way all the way back into our backyard,” and that water once “came in the front door, flooded the living room.”
Residents linked the problem to heavy, persistent rain and post-wildfire conditions. “The wildfire and post wildfire flooding are the top 2 public safety threats in here in Coconino County,” said Resident 4, adding that the events threaten homes, wildlife and Native American sacred places.
Speakers described both physical damage and financial consequences. One resident said repeated flooding had left houses devalued: “Nobody wants to live on a street like this. You know, the house is worth 0.” Another speaker said multiple homes in the neighborhood were affected and expressed anxiety that flooding would recur “again and again and again until something is done.”
The transcript shows these remarks came during public comment; no motions or formal actions on flood response were recorded in the provided transcript excerpt. Residents asked county leaders to address whatever is “caught in this” — referring to drainage or sediment issues — and to prevent future breaches and erosion.
The comments raised recurring concerns about emergency preparedness, erosion control and long-term mitigation after wildfires. The speakers urged county attention to reduce the immediate threat to homes and culturally significant places and to limit repeated recovery costs for residents.
