Monsoon Mayhem
Rain wreaking havoc on reservation

Austin Bahe leaps across a stream of water running down the road in Church Rock Wednesday afternoon. Monsoonal rains have wreaked havoc throughout eastern Arizona and western New Mexico. [Photo by John A. Bowersmith/Independent]

By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation is awash in flooding, power outages, road washouts, and water line breaks due to monsoon rains which are keeping emergency crews hopping.

Travel is discouraged during the rainstorms due to limited visibility and flooding, according to Johnny Johnson, Emergency Operations Center commander.

Johnson said that according to the elderly, the Navajo Way is to respect the rain, to be quiet and remain in your home as the storm passes. "Many prayed for the rains to come all summer. It is up to us to use wisdom and be safe," he said.

Water lines were exposed by flooding in the New Lands area this week, while a water line in Blue Canyon near Fort Defiance was damaged by a grader clearing the road, Johnson said. Navajo Tribal Utility Authority has made repairs to all water line breaks with the exception of Blue Gap, and all lines have been flushed to ensure the water is safe for human consumption.

Selena Manychildren, public information officer for Emergency Management, said Alamo, N.M., and Navajo Mountain, Utah, are experiencing major problems with their water supply. NTUA and Utah San Juan County are responding to Navajo Mountain requests for water hauling.

Runoff following a month-long fire at Navajo Mountain has contaminated a spring that feeds the community drinking water supply, prompting NTUA to transport drinking water from Inscription House to keep the 200,000 gallon water tank charged for 90 community residents, Manychildren said.

Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Army Corps of Engineers also are involved, she said. Bottled water has been donated and delivered to the community.

Navajo Emergency Management delivered 60 cases of bottled water Thursday to the satellite community of Alamo, which has been impacted on the north side following a July 30 water line break and a flood in the Rio Solado which washed out the water line.

Alamo has requested assistance from the National Guard. In the interim, Wal-Mart, Silver City and Emergency Management have sent donations of water. McKinley County is assisting the community of Church Rock, east of Gallup, Manychildren said.

In Tse Bonito, a family that has been experiencing the same flooding problems since 1995, once again has had a road washed out and Manychildren said a culvert from Rock Springs Chapter is being assessed to address the problem long-term.

Navajo Nation Law Enforcement was responding Friday afternoon to reports of damage in the communities of Tseyatoh, Rock Springs and Manuelito chapters following reports to Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr.'s office regarding persons stranded by flood waters.

Manychildren said all-terrain vehicles and dozers are necessary to assess remote areas where persons may be stranded.

In Black Mesa, Forest Lake and Pinon, floods washed out roads, creating 4- to 10 foot drops where roads used to be. An ATV was being used Friday in Black Mesa to assess damage. Manychildren said some of the roads were assessed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in December 2004 and Spring 2005, and that some repairs already had been made or were pending FEMA funds.

Dozers are being used to clear roads to residential areas where individuals may be in need of health care. Also, the Bureau of Indian Affairs responded this past week with dozers to blade roads and release standing water in Rock Point, the community most impacted by flooding, according to Manychildren.

The Navajo Nation Fish and Wildlife Department is assisting with pellets to kill mosquito larvae in standing water left by flooding.

The Emergency Operations Center was notified Friday afternoon of a fire near the Nazlini/Sawmill turnoff. Community Health Representatives reported the fire Thursday evening to Navajo Nation Department of Forestry.

Manychildren said area residents attempted to extinguish the fire, without success. BIA Fire Management Service strongly advises against such activity, she said. Individuals seeing smoke or fire are asked to call (928) 729-2307 or 729-7230, their local fire or police departments, or the Emergency Operations Center at (928) 871-6581 or 871-6363.

BIA Fire Management Service Dispatch said the lightning-caused fire covered two acres and was located 2 miles from the junction of 9450 toward Nazlini and 9400 to Chinle. Two fire engines and one BIA firefighting crew were on the scene, where it was anticipated that more precipitation Friday afternoon could hamper firefighting efforts.

The Department of Emergency Management was expecting a delivery of sandbags from Phoenix, and Incident Command Posts have been set up in Dilkon, Black Mesa and Rock Point.

Johnson encouraged emergency responders to get most of the work done early in the day to avoid delays caused by thunderstorms which usually begin forming in the afternoon.

The Emergency Operations Center will remain open and staffed throughout the weekend, with emergency personnel on standby. Call (928) 871-6581 or 871-6363 for assistance.