Sedona flood rescues leave no deaths or injuries reported
Helicopter crews lifted 12 people from rooftops in Arizona after Oak Creek breached its banks, forcing evacuations across multiple communities.
By Sakura Novak ·
No deaths or injuries were reported in Sedona, Arizona, after rapidly rising floodwaters forced residents to evacuate their homes on Sunday.
Officials ordered residents near Oak Creek to leave immediately as water trapped people inside their structures. Alexander Dale and his wife were among those stranded. Their home and several short-term rental units sit adjacent to the creek bed. Dale described the situation as chaotic, stating the family could not move to other locations. He and his wife, along with roughly nine guests, climbed onto the roof of the house and waited for approximately three hours for extraction.
A helicopter equipped with a heavy rope line arrived to lift the group to safety. Crew members initially questioned whether to include the family’s dog, noting a lack of a standard K-9 harness. Dale negotiated the rescue by securing the animal with three harnesses from their home. He held the dog tightly within his own harness during the lift, ensuring the pet remained secure.
Other residents faced similar abrupt departures. Cindy Wilmer, a schoolteacher living near Red Rock Crossing, evacuated with only the clothes on her back, her school keys, and her cat. She reported hearing the water roar down the street during the exodus. Fernando Leon, another resident of Oak Creek, feared his home was a total loss after seeing the river through his open door. Leon described the emotional toll of having to abandon his belongings on short notice.
State resources joined local efforts to manage the crisis. Governor Katie Hobbs confirmed that state air rescue crews assisted with rooftop evacuations. State transportation crews worked to clear debris from affected areas. By Sunday afternoon, the heavy rains that fueled the flooding had largely stopped in the Sedona region.
The immediate threat from the water has receded, but residents are returning to assess the damage to their properties. The coordination between air and ground units allowed for the safe removal of all trapped individuals from the creek bed area.
