By admin TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Tuesday’s storms caused multiple roads in Pima County to flood and close.
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Some roads remained closed hours after the rain stopped, with signs and barricades in place to block drivers and avoid any swift-water incidents.
Tucson Fire Department Chief Antonio Canizales said swift-water rescue calls always rise during monsoon season, but this season those calls have been more frequent.
“Probably some of our most dangerous calls that we run on,” Canizales said. “The amount of stuff that’s unknown under the water, the changing conditions that constantly happen.”
“In total, we’ve had 43 swift-water calls,” Canizales said.
That total is since June 15. It compares to a total of eight swift-water-related calls in that same period last summer.
Northwest Fire and Rural Metro Fire have also seen a significant increase in rescues this season.
Canizales said these calls shouldn’t be happening as often as they have been.
“Sometimes people just underestimate how fast the water is moving and how powerful it is,” Canizales said.
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As little as 6 inches of water can sweep a person off their feet, and a foot of water is enough to move a car.
Canizales said it is possible for an area to have little to no rain but see flash flooding hours after a storm from water flowing down streams and washes.
“Also what you don’t see. Things that are under the water that could trap you, grab an ankle, a leg, or something that pulls you under where we won’t be able to see you or find you,” Canizales said.
Canizales said first responders pack trucks on rainy days to prepare for rescues and are on standby to go to the city’s most flooded areas.
“Stay away from the banks of the washes, don’t drive through any running water, and if you see barricades up, do not go around the barricades until everything is removed,” Canizales said.
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