The question to be answered is how did the original developers get permits to build residential housing in a wash?!

The first thing my dad did when looking at houses was to make sure they weren't in a flood plain.

Building houses were you're NOT suppose to. To solve that problem that neighborhood needs $$$Tens of Millions Dollars of Federal Funding to make it liveable, The Easiest and Cheapest Solution is to Relocate them and let NATURE claim back the land.

now that's good reporting,kudos to the news crew for staying onsite

This is what happens when greedy contractors & real estate people build homes in flood paths & sell them to idiots that don't know any better! Don't buy a home in a wash!

Whether it's forest fires, rock/dirt slides/slumping, floods, etc. The fact that people build in incompatible places still amazes me. The developers, whose greed knows no bounds, create these issues. Just because that "cute little valley" looks perfect for a housing tract, doesn't mean that , geologically, you should build there. There are SO many more reasons not to build places, that are ignored, or blatantly disregarded, or corruptly circumvented.

he said they cant fix private property but they sure can repossess your home if you don't pay your taxes. smh fix the problem to help the people.

I'm a Native person so I'll say it like this, no sane people would CONTINUE to elect other people to make decisions for them about sensible protection for times like these in the SO-CALLED "richest country in the world ", without having consequences for those elected when they don't put at least some effort into helping during dangerous events. Just sayin'.

I paused this @0:01 to say ... man, the ignorance / denial etc is strong in Flagstaff !!! What do they imagine the words "Don't build on a floodplain" mean to them ?

i looked at real estate in Flagstaff, it's a beautiful area...sorry to hear that these people lost out...i went back there last spring, it is way populated , and i think overbuilt

It breaks my heart.. these poor people need help ASAP and it’s no way to live. Tragically sad 😔.. prayers 🙏🏼

"We need answers..." LMAO! There is a reason why we don't see any above ground geographic drone footage, we would all clearly see where water once rushed through in the past, and will then probably show up again in the future. This is why it is important to do your research before buying/building a house in a certain location. Don't build/buy in dried up river basins (example in Germany: Ahrweiler)

"Its terrifying!" *guy laughing in the back "First time?"

That's heart breaking. There has been flooding in many places around the US and the world. It seems to be increasing in both frequency and severity. Have these people considered to moving to a different place? I do not think anyone can win in a war against nature. At some point we just have to concede defeat and move out of nature's way.

People usually fail to take into consideration the location of their home…

Why did they build houses inside a riverbed???

Floods are just gravities' way of telling you to move, and gravity is the law.

Remember that the fires 🔥 killed the trees and ruined the land so the water 💧 just runs unimpeded

Here in Cali we're dying for storms like this haven't seen rain in over a year

Since 2019? I think I would've packed up and left.

City is going to have to bite the bullet and buy these homes!

why in the hell are they allowed to be so close to a river or stream? Move the housing away from it! Flash flooding, a stream or a creek can't handle that!

I always look around for any 100 year flood plains. My dad was on one and didn’t realize it till one day. Always know the limits of the 100 year flood footprint

“We need answers”, don’t build on low ground? Really, I am not trying to be unsympathetic but a storm drain seems to be one possibile solution for the time being

That is a natural draw that drains the rainwater, you keep fighting Mother Nature. I always checked out properly in a thunderstorm to see where the water was going.

I'm feel so sad for the people of Flagstaff, Arizona whose house 🏠 have been flooded. I hope FEMA will call for a State of an emergency.

Sending my Love And Prayers to All affected by Henri , I feel scared for you all ! Sending my thoughts ,Love and Prayers fr. Canada . This is terrible ! God Bless you All ❤️🙏🇨🇦

Her: “It’s terrifying” Men in the background: “Hahahaha!”

If this has been happening for years, it's their own fault for staying there. Trenches and sea walls. Give the water a path to follow.

"The avalanche has already started. It's too late for the pebbles to vote." - Kosh

Seriously you need answers, HERE YOU go sweetie “you bought a house in a flood zone” duh 🙄

Poor planning, Flagstaff grew so much in the last 25 years that nobody ever thought it out properly.

Come on Mayor Deasy. The roads don’t belong to private citizens. That federal money should be used to mitigate against flooding. Lead with a heart and at least amend a bill that allows you to help with those funds because these citizens pay taxes and those taxes should be able to help

This is why people are moving to Los Angeles and San Diego. They're tired of floods, snow, hurricanes, etc.

Heartbreaking when that gentleman said his house is worth zero. He couldn't give it away even if he wanted to. That's a frightening site.

This breaks my heart. I wish them blessings. Idk what else to say.

Looks like nature is building a new river! Starting with the riverbed.

people need to do more than just look at the house and community when buying a house! look at the landscape , is the a river or creek around there look around from a distance, is it in a valley because valleys are made usually from floods !! is the land flat on both sides of the creek/river and then the land gets hilly uneven if so its flooded

My heart goes out to them, I hope they get the help they need as soon as possible. That is no way to live, to be scared of rain every year..sad. My youngest son lives in Flagstaff, worries me all the time.

That’s devastating. If you’ve ever seen a dry wash turn into a raging river in a matter of minutes and the roar it makes, you can understand the heartache when it’s their street thats turning into a river right in front of their homes.

This story needs some maps to show where the water comes from and how it could be redirect. Otherwise it is just exciting pictures.

"What are we supposed to do?" Idk, move out of a flood zone maybe?

Wow! I have never seen a flash flood develop IRL. I'm astonished at how quickly it happens. I'm glad the news reporters were there when this happened. Maybe that will put more pressure on FEMA or the state government to help these people find a permanent solution to this nightmare! I can't imagine having to deal with this every day. I feel so bad for them!

I'd love to buy the whole neighborhood and save those folks from their problems.

I watched this soon to be called "Museum Fire" start on that Sunday on July 21st 2019 as I was going to Church that morning. It was one small plume at 10:40 AM. It was very dry and hot that morning, near 90 F, and I thought with the fire observation tower on Mt Elden I was certain that a call would go out to put that fire out. Did not happen, and as I was returning to home after church that morning it was a full blown blaze. The cause... Fire mitigation in that watershed doing clearing work that morning. Had it not been done on that very dry and "tinder box" day in 2019 this catastrophe would not have happened. According to the AZ Daily Sun which reported: "Museum Fire was sparked by forest thinning work from the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project’s steep slope project when an excavator struck a rock during their operations..." They are RESPONSIBLE, along with all the government agencies that allowed this operation to continue on a very dry day, 1% humidity at 90 F+ conditions ... And they should be held accountable for all the damage to Flagstaff Sunnyside homes. Many of these homes are beyond repair, and cannot be repaired as they are now in a flood zone. A CLASS ACTION suit might be in order.

The old guy is crying as if they weren't told when they bought the place and decided it was worth it anyway..

I lived in Flagstaff from ‘84 to ‘94 & it has CHANGED! Even back then while studying for my Real Estate license I could not believe the thousands of houses/Apts they were planning to be built…now we see the results of this poor planning. RAIN is not the problem bc it is what makes Flagstaff beautiful…greed & poor planning is.

This is truly heartbreaking. How could someone build this neighborhood without the proper infrastructure to redirect the water when it rains? It reminds me of Houston, Texas, where countless homes were built in a flood plain. Then, Hurricane Harvey struck in 2017. Homes were in 8-10 feet of water. Sometimes human error comes with a high price tag attached.

I won't be surprised if the city tells them they're not allowed to leave the sand bags up and threatens to fine them if they don't remove them.

YOU ARE LIVING ON STOLEN LANDS SOAKED WITH THE BLOOD OF GODS CHOSEN PEOPLE

So glad I stayed to watch, rather than my usual youtube click-surfing. It's a great report! May God send some sunshine into your neighborhoods and into your sad hearts. Enclosed are many prayers and warm HUGS.

Seems to be an issue with the people who put homes where the water naturally flows.

Remeber this axeum of life. Politicians don't solve problems they create them. Dont't ever forget this.

Those people look on the verge of mental breakdown and they deserve a solution. That’s an embarrassment to the county and state officials.

Flash floods are lethal and devastating.

This is way too sad and messed up! They need good ppl representing them since no one does anything! I truly hope they find closure soon and God bless them and they can count on me for prayers!!!!

Wow! So sad and what incredible footage! This should go viral and win an award, everyone should see this.

Arizona. GOP controlled. No zoning. You get the government you voted for, and the repercussions.

The poor man and people suffering thru this!

A place that once (or many times) flooded has flooded again! I am shocked and amazed.

Lord Jesus my heart is so sadden to see this devastation to these people lively hood. Have mercy Lord! I pray God will vindicate everyone impacted by those flood waters. Ridiculous! scenario happening in Arizona in 2021 really.

Where is all this water going? I'm assuming it'll find its way to some local river and then contribute to a reservoir. That's some small good news I guess.

Im so sad for these poor folks

Really expected this to be about people complaining about a one time event that had concerned them. It's absolutely unconscionable this has been going on since 2019 without considerable improvements!!!

Curious, is Arizona able to at least capture this water to help mitigate the drought? Meantime, its not ideal, but just adaptation, but yes they should accept, build and build bigger, stronger, permanent walls at least to channel the water and hopefully direct it somewhere useful. Plan and do. Up to us.

Dude, I see water that high, I'm out. Clearly it's past "moving foward" Can we agree their state version of gov sucks..

Omg this is so sad and it brings tears to my eyes my prayers go out to all of you

During Sandy my street was under five feet of water. We were evacuated that day Grand Central Terminal being a mess I took the subway up to 241st Street where my mother and my sister picked me up and I went to stay with my parents for several days in Rye we had no electricity but we had hot water and the stove. FEMA came to my parents but didn't need to apply. I did and I'm very grateful to FEMA they put me up at the W Hotel for 3 months. Sent me a $2500 check and put me up at Gild Hall - a Thompson Square Hotel for an additional one month.

The mayor is so busy worrying about his re-election instead of helping with the real problems in flagstaff.

THEIR OFFICIALS ARE FILMED LAUGHING OUT LOUD!!!

I wish people were that kind and friendly in the town I live in. They seem to really care..

I feel for what these people are going through, but it's not the city of Flagstaffs problem when you build in a flood plain and you don't even raise the foundation level of the house.

So what changed to start flooding these homes? It didn’t all of a sudden start raining

" ........ gives us a look at what happens when people build in the wrong places ....".... and they'll want my tax dollars to pay for it.

We are watching from SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO . WE ARE CRYING CRYING, CRYING.

Things are getting crazy. I live outside NYC and my town had massive flooding. I never even gave flooding a thought. Some poor man died a couple of miles from our house. It happened in a very busy part of town. He was not the only person to die. People had feet of water in their yards all the way to their first floors. No rivers or streams overflowed just massive rain and a sewer system overwhelmed. I feel for these peoples. One flood was enough for me and my damage was light. My 68 year old neighbor has lived in this neighborhood his entire life and had never seen anything like this before. He never thought a flood was a possible. Its the new normal, crazy weather that is.

My heart breaks for these people. Anyone who says it’s just things needs to keep their opinions to themselves. We work and sacrifice much of our time, our youth and some their health for “things”… sending thoughts and prayers from Somerset England. I had the privilege 20 years ago to spend 6 months in America.. even time in Flagstaff, and have such fond memories of the people and places.

So funny! Imagine the same place getting hit by floods!! How is that even possible???

🙏 for those affected.

Flood in flagstaff, i was at nau studying there, just snow, no floods at all for 4 years, i dont recall i have seen rains when i was in 4 years there. Love the place..

That's what happens when you live in a house in a flood plain zone..

I feel for these folks

Never knew about this. Thank you 😔

I was an insurance inspector for underwriters and I learned so much, You have to look at all the surrounding factors. Flood planes, fire hazards, factories, trains, airplane routes, rivers, roads, the list is long but very important. Insurance companies look at all of this and CHARGE you accordingly !!

Infrastructure would cover what needs to be done. Get your Senator to approve this legislation.

Where will the water go when you cover hundreds of square miles with development

This is so heart breaking 💔

I grew up in sunny side and I am 62 now and I seen a lot of storms and it never flooded like that. The city is to blame for the flooding. All the comments about building in a flood plain don't know what they're talking about. Don't comment on items you don't know anything about.

Dry in Phoenix smh wow look at all that water

The state can make cattle ponds in outback places and make many of them and large so the water gets dissipated along the way into those ponds and by chance......only guessing and by estimates, the water never rushes a town down main street. You cant easily build a retention dam but you can build 20 smaller holding ponds to help the water table and maybe their volume equals a larger dam. There needs to be more work done with track hoes on state owned land to help ranchers with cattle ponds, for wildlife, and to lessen flood severity.

"We need answers" "MOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I would look at the city and county for not clearing out the drains properly. My heart goes out to those people!

I thought it was Deftones playing at first.

I'm in Tempe Arizona just a couple miles from ASU and here in Phoenix we got three alerts back-to-back as well State emergency imminent alerts for flash flooding... And not just last night but recently we have received those to let us know but at the same time last night was the first time I got 3 Alerts... within one or two hours.

I’m from Hawaii and we know rain. Much of the challenges in tropical regions comes from rerouting old river beds when developers plow under tracts to build homes. In the 70s, as a child, I watched the rivers of water coming down the streets in our neighborhood . The state had to go into the mountains and build large drainage system designed to carry flood waters to the ocean and then the flooding stopped. However, it’s also extreme costly. It’s why we pay the cost of housing that we do. Infrastructure planning is a must. This has to have been happening up there for some time now. The movement of that water indicates, to me, an existing river flowed through thus area and was never rerouted before it was developed. Any ideas how old these homes are?

Sounds like they built on a flashflood creek bed.

I spy with my little eye a town that won't exist in 10 years whether they like it or not.

🤔Is it possible to turn Flagstaff and potential washes around Flagstaff into a sponge city like China sponge cities are doing to divert the excess water towards Arizona’s interior needs.

Prayers for healing and safety. So sorry for your troubles. God is good. Keep the faith.

God is trying to tell you something I pray for many to wake up Your lives and souls are important and materials can be replaced. The community needs to come together and pray , help thy neighbor, love thy neighbor