Hobbs Declares Emergency for Storm-Hit Arizona Counties

The declaration makes $200,000 from Arizona’s general fund available to the state’s emergency management agency for response and recovery work. Navajo County sought financial assistance after storms from October 20 to October 22 caused property damage, power outages and blocked streets, while raising concerns about public safety.

Three tornadoes touched down during the storm system. In Heber-Overgaard, an EF1 tornado with winds reaching 110 mph traveled more than nine miles and damaged more than 20 structures. Thousands of trees fell, some onto homes and vehicles. A man was injured while biking home with groceries. A separate tornado near Prescott had winds up to 105 mph; no injuries were reported there. Another tornado crossed a forest near Bellemont, breaking or uprooting tall trees.

Hobbs visited Heber-Overgaard and met with officials about recovery. She said the state would help communities obtain the resources needed to recover. County officials had declared a local emergency, and state Rep. Walt Blackman had asked Hobbs to issue a state declaration. Navajo County’s chairman estimated the county’s damage at $20,000 so far.

Further storms were expected from Saturday night into early Monday, with flood warnings in parts of northern and central Arizona. Hobbs’ office said the flooding did not meet the threshold for seeking a federal disaster declaration. Tribal nations have a separate route to request federal aid: the Hopi Tribe declared an emergency and planned to seek further assistance, while the Navajo Nation had not requested a FEMA declaration as of Thursday afternoon.