Severe Weather Prompts Call for Emergency Declaration in Navajo County
In response to a suspected tornado that struck Navajo County, damaging numerous residences, Northern Arizona Representative Walt Blackman has urged Governor Katie Hobbs to declare a state of emergency. The rare weather event, which occurred Wednesday evening, has left the community of Heber-Overgaard in need of significant recovery resources.
Representative Blackman, a member of the Republican Party, emphasized that an emergency declaration would facilitate the provision of necessary assistance and might even pave the way for federal support if deemed essential. “We have several homes that have been damaged because of the storm,” Blackman shared with KNAU. “We have some homes that have trees that have fallen on them. Vehicles with hail damage, issues with power outage.”
Governor Hobbs has already mobilized state agencies, including the Arizona Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, and the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, to collaborate closely with local authorities in addressing the impacts of the storm. Through social media, she expressed her support for the affected community, stating, “My thoughts are with the Heber-Overgaard community after a reported tornado. My administration is actively coordinating with Navajo County Emergency Management on sheltering and support. I am grateful for the first responders on site who are assisting the impacted area.”
During a press conference on Thursday, local officials reported that the tornado likely caused considerable damage to between 20 and 30 homes, with one person sustaining minor injuries and requiring hospitalization.
Expressing relief over the limited injuries, Blackman stated, “I want to say that I’m truly blessed that we have not had a lot more injuries or any type of loss of life. And that is due to the men and women that are on the ground now, helping folks.”
On Thursday, Blackman visited affected areas, witnessing firsthand the devastation, which included uprooted trees and an abundance of debris. He described the scene, noting, “The debris is incredible. The houses that I have seen, you’ll have a house standing right next to a house that hasn’t been touched and you’ll have another house that has a tree falling over it or a power line may be down.”
He recounted specific instances of damage, including a tree crushing the back of a home and a flipped trailer belonging to a local resident. Despite the unexpected nature of the tornado, he praised the community’s solidarity, highlighting, “The real warming part, though, is I see people coming out in the community, helping one another regardless of political affiliation or ideology.”
Looking ahead, Blackman emphasized the importance of preparedness and collaboration with local officials to enhance infrastructure resilience. “We need to make sure we have a solid plan going forward to mitigate this and the aftermath,” he said, underscoring the need for thorough after-action reviews.
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