Governor declares state of emergency in Gila County after catastrophic flooding

The governor said he had declared a state of emergency for Gila County after heavy rain and "catastrophic flooding" that damaged homes, destroyed businesses and claimed lives, and he urged residents to stay clear of flooded areas and follow local guidance.

The declaration directs state resources to search-and-rescue operations, cleanup and recovery, the governor said, and he has authorized the Arizona National Guard "to support efforts in Hila County as necessary." The administration said the state emergency operations center (EOC) was activated at level one with 24-hour staffing from 20 agencies and more than 45 personnel and that a joint information center was in operation to coordinate information across agencies.

"My heart is with all of these Arizonans," the governor said, expressing condolences for those who lost loved ones and urging vigilance as responders work in the field. He said his office was in direct contact with the San Carlos Apache tribe and that the state was prepared to provide support on the reservation through the state mutual aid compact.

Brigadier General Conley thanked the governor for issuing the emergency declaration, saying it "helps get us more resources to the affected areas so that we can help our community members," and introduced the state emergency operations manager for operational details.

Gabe Lavine, the state emergency operations manager, said the State Emergency Operations Center has been fully activated since Friday evening and described three operational priorities: refining the on-the-ground impact assessment; ensuring timely, life-saving response and resource requests; and posturing support for the eventual recovery. "Our federal partners are beginning to arrive, and we anticipate additional FEMA support and coordination in the morning," Lavine said.

Operational details provided by the administration included: more than 70 personnel from the Department of Public Safety and six different county sheriff's offices engaged in search-and-rescue operations; the Department of Public Safety deployed ranger and drone teams for aerial search-and-rescue with the National Guard on standby; Arizona Department of Agriculture personnel were assessing missing and deceased livestock; six hazmat teams from eight agencies, including mutual aid from California, were addressing hazardous-material incidents; and more than 25 Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) staff and crews were working on road clearance. The Department of Public Safety also deployed a 13-member team to provide law-enforcement backfill and relief for Hila County 911 centers.

The governor said his administration has been in contact with FEMA leadership, including Acting Administrator Richardson and Region IX Administrator Fenton, and that FEMA had indicated readiness to assist as needed. The governor also said he had spoken with a federal official referred to in the transcript as "Secretary Gnome," who expressed appreciation for state leadership and coordination; the administration's statement to the press did not identify that official further.

Next steps include continued coordination with federal partners, ongoing search-and-rescue and welfare checks, and transitioning to recovery operations that will connect survivors with community partners and services. The administration said it will continue to post updates through the joint information center as the situation develops.