BREAKING NEWS: Oak Creek flooding prompts evacuation alert

by Cyndy Hardy

SEDONA, December 7 – Several residents and businesses were alerted to voluntarily evacuate this evening as Oak Creek swelled over several low-water crossings.

“Evacuation is not mandatory but some residents could get trapped in any of those low-lying areas,” said Sedona Police Cmdr. Marlayne Hatler.

The National Weather Service in Flagstaff issued a flash flood watch at 2:07 p.m. and an emergency alert at 6:52 p.m., stating that by 8 p.m. Oak Creek was expected to rise to 13 feet – one foot below flood stage. The creek normally runs about two to four feet deep.

“Between 4:30 and 5 p.m. there was a major spike at Pump House Wash,” Sedona Fire Chief Matt Shobert said. Emergency personnel knocked on doors in neighborhoods close to the creek – many of which are only accessible via low-water crossings – alerting residents to evacuate.
One house on Blackhawk Lane had flooded, Shobert said. The Red Cross was notified and an evacuation center was ready, if needed, but no one had yet requested the service, Shobert said.

Affected residential areas included Copper Cliffs Drive, Newcastle Lane, Purtyman Lane, Doodlebug Road, Lake Drive, Trails End Drive, according to Hatler. Arroyo Roble Resort and L’Auberge de Sedona were also notified.

A front desk clerk at L’Auberge de Sedona said guests and employees were “safe and secure” and that the resort was not concerned about the flood conditions. At Arroyo Roble, a front desk clerk said they had monitored the National Weather Service’s real time creek levels throughout the afternoon and also were not concerned. Both men refused to be identified, citing company policy.

Margaret Frey, a spokesperson at Rancho Sedona RV Park, said, “It’s got to get a lot worse than this before we need to worry.”

The last major flood in Sedona occurred on December 29, 2004. Oak Creek swelled to about 18 feet, according to NWS records.

© 2007 Cyndy Hardy. Reprints by permission.
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