The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said it responded to 16 river rescues as of 3 p.m. Sunday as motorists attempted to cross flooded roads or washes and became stranded.
All were rescued without injury, a department spokeswoman said.
Of those water rescues, 12 took place Sunday in the greater Tucson area, the Tucson Fire Department said, adding that its crews responded to seven cases, including at South Yale Drive and East Fordham Drive, Calle Marte and Avenida Planeta, and the Alamo Wash at South Birch Avenue. “Fortunately, no injuries were reported.”
Additionally, crews were working late Sunday afternoon to clear several fallen rocks near Windy Point on or near the Catalina Highway, although the highway remained open, the sheriff’s department said.
Earlier in the day, according to the Sheriff’s Department, an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter safely brought a stranded hiker and rescuers caring for him from Bear Canyon, where streams — like in neighboring Sabino Canyon — were rushing with fast-moving water.
Many roads in Pima County are closed due to heavy rain and flooding. Check the latest closures on this hotline: 520-351-3351.
“Turn around, don’t drown when you encounter flooded roads,” the National Weather Service warns. “Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.” The Tucson Fire Department adds, “Water may be deeper and moving faster than it appears, and it only takes a small amount of moving water to sweep away a vehicle. »
The Mount Lemmon Hotel released a video Sunday showing what it called “more water than we’ve ever seen at Seven Cataracts Waterfall in the Santa Catalina Mountains on Mount Lemmon,” and described 4 to 5 inches of rain falling on the mountain in the 24 hours between midday Saturday and midday Sunday.
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