Big story first at 4 Monsoon 2022
a powerful storm causing massive
flooding in Apache Junction.
This is the week's Wash
near Ironwood and baseline,
and as you can see it is flowing strong.
The water is raging and we know
of cars being trapped and crews
having to rescue drivers. Here's
another look at flash
flooding in Apache Junction.
Some roads remain closed.
We also have reports of some homes
being flooded and just as people
there recover from the heavy rain.
Today they prepare for
the possibility of more
storms. On the way there's a lot
that we need to get to as we cover
today's monsoon storms and we'll
get straight to meteorologist
Jamie Cagle in just a moment.
But first, we want to go out
live to Apache Junction team 12.
Jonathan McCall is live there with
some homeowners who are cleaning
up the mess left behind by
today's flooding. Hey, Jonathan.
Hey tramp karibe,
good afternoon you know what?
Here in Apache Junction
boy what a difference.
Just a few hours makes the sun is now out,
but folks are still cleaning
up the damage left behind.
Want to show you one of the
biggest concerns that first
responders had all day long.
This was a number of water rescues.
This was actually one of them.
We just learned a few moments ago that they,
a woman who was door dashing,
was inside of this red SUV.
She was able to get out,
but her SUV flowed down this wash.
And ended up in this area
where we're at right now.
These people right here are family
members who have now come back to try
to retrieve some of her belongings.
They tell us that she did suffer just
some minor cuts and bruises as she
was trying to be rescued by first
responders after she got out of her car.
As a result of this incident,
those strong currents moving
in this area took her car and
just once again moved it down.
This wash again, that woman,
we were told is doing OK tonight right now.
The family is looking for a dog that
was inside of this woman's SUV at the
time when the water took it away.
That's what they're doing right now.
Trying to get those belongings out
and also try to find her dog as well.
I want to show you some video
from the scene in the area,
according to the Superstition,
Fire and Rescue crews did perform 5 rescues,
4 from cars,
a fifth person from a home,
no injuries,
no major injuries reported
from any of these incidents,
but from the video you can see just how
fast the water was moving in this area,
creating those.
Dangerous conditions on the roads
and for first responders as well.
We got a chance to talk with one
lady who says she's only lived in
Apache Junction for about a year.
She says she watched the rain
fill the wash near her home.
Initially she thought it was
all over when she went outside,
she said she ended up getting stuck
in deep mud and even had to use her
patio furniture to get unstuck.
Because it was so thick.
Here's what she had to say.
I said I gotta go, I gotta go now I
have to get out now and but I went into
the house and shut the door because now
it's like a foot deep at the kitchen
door and I I pushed the bottom of
the door with my foot to be sure it
was latched and I grabbed my purse.
I grabbed my keys and I turned around.
I said goodbye.
Sweet home I got to go and I said
I and I said I give it to you Jesus
and I turned around and I went
out the door which now.
Is you know, two feet deep at the door.
Plenty of emotion from homeowners in
this area today as they deal with trying
to clean up from the mess of the rain,
first responders from Tempe,
Mesa and Pinal County.
Also here on scene helping out in
those rescues as well a number of
streets in this area still are
closed because of flooding concerns.
There's still lots of mud and debris on a
number of streets here in Apache Junction.
Those are closed.
We also have learned that State Route
88 not too far from where where are
near Canyon Lake also closed right now
because of flooding, according to a dot.
Right now there's still no word on
when all of these streets will reopen,
but as you can see, again, just again,
the dangers of just that fast
moving water again.
5 Rescues performed today.
4 water rescues with folks in cars,
folks here, out here right now,
still trying to collect their
belongings for loved ones.
Caught in all of the mess,
we'll have another update live
for you tonight on 12 news at 5
live Tonight in Apache Junction,
Jonathan McCall 12 News.