What can you do?
Sign up for MyAlerts. The Pima County Office of Emergency Management’s MyAlerts (http://myalerts.pima.gov system allows the Regional Flood Control District to provide near real-time flood alerts to Pima County residents within certain watersheds. Residents who sign up for MyAlerts using addresses within these watercourses will receive messages about flood events in their area. This warning system is the most effective way for the Flood Control District to notify residents about flood events. Find additional information about the MyAlerts Flood Alert Messaging webpage at www.pima.gov/floodalerts.
Get Flood insurance. Disaster relief for private property is almost unheard of and after the flood is too late to get flood insurance. The Flood Control District recommends that you acquire flood insurance immediately. The cost does not change due to the fire and you may be surprised how inexpensive it is, especially if your structure is not within a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area. Ask your insurance agent about a Preferred Risk Policy.
The Bighorn Fire was officially declared contained on 7/23/2020. Property owners, renters and businesses have 60 calendar days from that date to purchase flood insurance that qualifies for a potential exemption to the usual 30-day waiting period for coverage.
Pima County Board of Supervisors Chairman Ramon Valadez urges you to obtain flood insurance as well.
Protect your structure(s). A common response to the threat of flooding is to protect ones entire property. However, frequently some of that land is necessary to convey flows and obstructing the flow path risks adversely affecting other properties. The best course of action is to identify ways to protect your residence from flood damage. The use of sandbags in the doorways, or small diversions just upstream of the residence is usually the most effective way to protect the residence while leave the rest of the property open to flow. Protecting more than just your structures may cause harm to your neighbors and leave you open to civil lawsuits. It may also be a violation of the Floodplain Ordinance, leaving you open to enforcement action and fines.
Create an Emergency Response Plan. An Emergency Response Plan should include preparing “go bags” to help you and your loved ones get out of harm’s way quickly, the fastest route to high ground and safety, and keeping in contact with friends and family.
Sandbags
Pima County is providing a limited number of sandbags for impacted properties, available at:
- Department of Transportation facility at 1313 S. Mission Road (724-6410);
- Brandi Fenton Memorial Park in the northwest dirt parking lot;
- In Summerhaven on Carter Canyon Road at the north side of Snyder Road and Lason Lane; and
- The Town of Oro Valley is providing sandbags at Naranja Park in the Christmas tree drop off lot located just north of the Archery Range along the entry drive.
Post-fire Flood Maps
Within the first week of the start of the Bighorn Fire, the District was already working with a contractor to develop floodplain maps accounting for the increased flood risk due to the fire. The District has obtained preliminary floodplain maps for the 100-year storm showing the area expected to be flooded by this storm in the aftermath of the fire.
It is extremely important to keep the following things in mind when looking at these maps:
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The floodplain shown is based on computer modeling using the best available data.
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The floodplains shown do NOT account for debris flows that may clog channels and divert flow in unexpected directions and/or intensities.
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The floodplains shown do not account for walls, fences, and other similar improvements that may divert flow.
- The floodplains shown do not account for storms larger than the 100-year storm.
- Damaging floods from storms smaller than the 100-year storm are expected. The affects of the Bighorn Fire may turn otherwise harmless storms into damaging floods.
Post-Bighorn Fire Flood Inundation Maps
Post-fire Flood Impacted Property Notifications
Property owners with structures that may be subject to additional risk due to the effects of the Bighorn Fire have been notified by mail by the District. Those outreach packets included the following information:
- Notification letter to private property owners
- Notification letter to business owners
- Flood After Fire infographic
- Floods Follow Fires fact sheet
- Preferred Risk Policies
- My Alerts brochure
Notification letters were sent to properties in the following watersheds: Canada del Oro, Esperero, Finger Rock, Golder, Pima, Rooney, Sabino, Steampump, Sutherland, Valley View, and Ventana. The notifications for Steampump and Rooney washes were sent in cooperation with the Town of Oro Valley.
Media
The increased risk of flooding in the aftermath of the Bighorn Fire has received a lot of media attention. Some examples are provided below.
- "Bighorn Fire Aftermath: Experts Warn of Higher Flood risk Near Burned Areas" - AZ Star, June 16, 2020
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"Bighorn Fire: County Preps for Flood Risk After Fire" - KGUN 9, June 17, 2020
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"Floods Follow Fires: Leaders Prepare for Post-Bighorn Fire Monsoon" - KOLD, June 27, 2020
- "Floods Follow Fires" - Pima County Sheriff's Department, July 2, 2020
- "Experts say Pima County Residents Should be Concerned About Flooding amid Bighorn Fire" - KVOA, July 2, 2020
- "Pima County Urges Residents to get Flood Insurance Ahead of Monsoon" - KOLD, July 2, 2020
- Public Service Announcement from Pima County Supervisor Ramon Valadez
- "Mt. Lemmon Tour Flood Concern" - Pima County Sheriff's Department, July 10, 2020
- "Crews Prep Tucson-area Washes Before Monsoon Flooding" - KOLD, July 15, 2020
- "Flash Flood Carries Bighorn Fire Debris Along Channel Outside Tucson" - UK News Yahoo, July 17, 2020
- "Bighorn Fire Debris Begins to Flood Into Washes Amid Monsoon Season" - KOLD, July 17, 2020
- "Bighorn Fire Debris Floods Canada Del Oro Wash" - KGUN, July 17, 2020
- "Flash Food After the Bighorn Fire in the Catalina Mountains, Tucson, AZ" - Reddit Post, July 17, 2020
- "TFD Warns Public About Runoff from Bighorn Fire" - KOLD, July 17, 2020
- "Video Featuring Ash-mud Slide Filmed in Pima County Goes Viral" - KVOA, July 17, 2020
- "Pima County Prepares for More Runoff From Bighorn Fire" - KGUN, July 17, 2020
- "Blackened Runoff Seen in Tucson-area Wash May be Just the Beginning, Flood Experts Warn" - AZ Star, July 19, 2020
- "Streaming River of Black Sludge Floods Through Arizona" - Live Science, July 20, 2020
- "Flash Flood in Arizona Triggers Torrent of Wildfire Debris; officials Warn of Risks After Blaze Near Tucson" - Fox News, July 20, 2020
- "Deadly River of Black Sludge Filled with Debris Filmed Flooding Through Arizona After Wildfires" - The Irish Sun, July 21, 2020
- "What the Hell is this River of Black Sludge Oozing as a Result of Arizona" - Inside Wales, July 21, 2020
- "Rain triggers a flood of steaming muck near Arizona wildfire. Officials warn it can happen again" - Erie News Now, July 22, 2020
- "Bighorn Fire Aftermath: Official Warn of Flash Flood Danger, Close Mount Lemmon" - Tucson Local Media, July 22, 2020
- "В Аризоне опасаются внезапных селей в пострадавших от природного пожара района (
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