Sedona residents held onto pets during flood evacuations

Rapidly rising floodwaters forced residents in Sedona, Arizona, to evacuate their homes on Sunday. The flooding trapped multiple people inside their houses near Oak Creek, prompting officials to issue immediate departure orders. By Sunday afternoon, the heavy rains had largely stopped in the region, though the impact on local properties remained clear.

Alexander Dale and his wife found themselves stranded on their property, which sits directly next to the creek bed. The home and several short-term rental units they manage were surrounded by water. Dale, his wife, and approximately nine guests climbed onto the roof of the house. They waited there for about three hours until a helicopter arrived to lift them to safety.

Dale said the rescue crew initially questioned whether they could take the family dog. The pilot noted that they did not have a specific harness for the animal and was unsure if they could lift it. Dale asked what they should do. The couple decided to keep the dog. They retrieved three harnesses from inside the home and strapped them together to secure the animal. Dale held the dog while sitting in the rescue harness as they were lifted out of the water.

Other residents also evacuated with limited belongings. Cindy Wilmer, a schoolteacher living at Red Rock Crossing, described the water roaring down the street. She left with only the clothes on her back, her school keys, and her cat. Wilmer expressed concern about the condition of her house after the flood.

Fernando Leon was also evacuated from his home on Oak Creek. He opened his front door to see the river and immediately knew he needed to leave. Leon said he feared his home might be a total loss. He described the feeling of having to leave all his possessions behind after one day of normalcy.

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs stated that state air rescue crews assisted with rooftop evacuations. State transportation crews worked to clear debris from the area. No injuries or deaths were immediately reported following the flooding event.