Historic flooding in Globe-Miami results in three fatalities

Severe flooding in the Globe-Miami area of Arizona has claimed three lives, as search and cleanup efforts continue in the aftermath of the disaster. The body of Terri Saenz, a missing woman swept away by floodwaters, was found late Sunday night, nearly two days after the initial flooding, according to her family.

Saenz, who was driving her red Chevy Camaro west from Miami toward the Valley during torrential rainfall, became the latest victim of the flooding. Her car was carried into a nearby creek by the force of the water. Anthony Glover, Saenz’s son, revealed that a driver behind her witnessed the incident and contacted 911. The car was found on Saturday, severely damaged.

"The tires are missing off it, the engine is out of it. It’s just totally demolished", Glover said. He and his family had been preparing to search for Saenz before her body was found Sunday evening. "She’s a good person, has a good heart. She’s going to be deeply missed", he added.

Community mourns lives lost

Saenz’s death follows the confirmed fatalities of two other individuals. Heather Johnson, a 50-year-old delivery driver for local newspapers Silverbelt and Coppercountrynews, was one of the victims. Tina Nixon, the operations manager at the newspapers, described Johnson as a cherished employee who cared deeply for her community.

"Heather was a beloved member of our team for 5 years who truly cherished her community…While the Arizona Silver Belt and Copper Country News family is grieving this loss, our thoughts are with Heather’s family, who had just stood beside her as she beat cancer, making this loss all the more sudden and devastating. A strong lady lost too soon", Nixon said in a statement.

No additional missing persons reports have been filed with the Globeaz or the Gila County Sheriff’s Office, but search and rescue efforts remain underway.

Challenges of recovery and cleanup

Efforts to recover from the flooding have been extensive, with 150 crew members deployed from across Arizona to assist. The Dffm Az reported that floodwaters reached speeds of up to 65 miles per hour, bringing with them massive debris fields. Trees, crushed vehicles, and even hundreds of propane tanks from a local storage facility were scattered across the region.

"The debris flow that came down with those floodwaters, it’s catastrophic", said Tiffany Davila with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. Emergency crews have been treating the situation as a hazardous materials response, given the presence of propane tanks found lodged in trees, under bridges, and on private properties. The strong smell of propane lingered in the area during cleanup efforts.

"We’re working very diligently and safely to remove the propane tanks", Davila added.

Long road to recovery

While progress is being made, Davila noted that it will take time for the Globe-Miami community to fully recover from the devastation. Crews are expected to continue rescue and cleanup operations, with dozens of crushed vehicles already removed from local waterways.

"It is going to take some time for the community to get back on its feet here", Davila said.

As the region deals with the aftermath of the historic flooding, the lives lost remain at the forefront of the community’s thoughts, with families and friends grieving those taken too soon.

Kvoa