/ Modified oct 9, 2018 1:19 p.m.

Dozens Remain Displaced as Tohono O'odham Nation Continues Flood Recovery

Damage assessments continue days after a tropical storm came close to breaching an earthen dam.

Sandbags at Menagers Dam More than 80 volunteers helped fill and place sandbags at Menagers Dam.
Courtesy of the Tohono O'odham Nation

Residents of the Tohono O’odham Nation continue to deal with damage caused by heavy rains and flooding brought by Tropical Storm Rosa.

Emergency management officials spent the weekend assessing the damage to 50 homes affected by the storm. Damage assessments, including to local roads, will continue in the coming days.

Meanwhile, dozens of evacuees remain at an emergency shelter in Sells. The shelter has recently received donations of water, food and clothing, and is continuing to accept donations for the more than 40 displaced community members.

Last week, heavy rains and flooding nearly led to the breach of Menagers Dam. The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs has been closely monitoring the earthen dam while stabilization efforts continue. Two pipes were installed over the weekend to pump the lake and lower the water level, and more than 80 volunteers helped sandbag the crest of the dam yesterday.

Individuals interested in donating to the emergency shelter or home recovery efforts can contact Donna Estrada at (520) 993-1079. Interested volunteers can sign up here.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona