Floods Leave Sedona and Verde Valley Homes Buried in Mud

Floodwaters surged through parts of Sedona and the Verde Valley on November 1, washing away driveways, damaging homes and leaving streets covered in mud and debris. In some areas, the water cut off escape routes as residents evacuated; some stopped to rescue pets from rising water. Near Sedona, the flood carved a sinkhole and removed a family’s driveway, stopping only feet from the home.

Flooding prompted more than 60 rescues across Yavapai County, according to the sheriff’s office. Sedona Fire crews pulled 27 people from swift-moving water before nightfall and rescued 12 others later that night. The department’s count indicated that no one remained unaccounted for. Residents returned on November 2 to find damage ranging from mud-covered floors to homes still partly underwater. One Cottonwood family escaped with their two daughters, dogs and 14 goats, but found their home’s waterline above the windows when they returned.

Officials and utility crews were checking damaged areas to determine where people could safely return. Sedona said most evacuated areas were open to residents by late afternoon on November 2, though several streets remained closed until conditions improved. A flood alert remained in effect in Yavapai County. On November 2, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs proclaimed an emergency, releasing $200,000 in emergency funding for affected communities.