PHOENIX (AP) — The remnants of Hurricane Norbert are causing dangerous flooding in the desert Southwest.
It’s swamped Phoenix with record rainfall for a single day that’s turned freeways into small lakes. More than 3 inches of rain closed parts of Interstates 10 and 17 and flooded numerous streets in the metro area. Emergency workers have been rescuing drivers from inundated cars.
In Tucson, a woman was killed when her car was swept away by heavy floods and pinned against a bridge. And in Pinal County, the sheriff’s office says a 76-year-old woman drowned after trying to cross a wash near Oracle Junction when her car became trapped.
The Arizona Department of Transportation says its pumping stations couldn’t keep up with the downfall on freeways.
Gov. Jan Brewer has declared a state of emergency.
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182-a-11-(Rolando Valdez, resident, in interview)-“to sink in”-Phoenix resident Rolando Valdez says his fiance’s sister panicked when the water started rising around her vehicle. (8 Sep 2014)
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181-a-08-(Rolando Valdez, resident, in interview)-“a complete ocean”-Phoenix resident Rolando Valdez says his fiance’s sister was among the motorists trapped by the floodwaters on I-10. (8 Sep 2014)
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184-a-06-(Officer Bill Westsik (WEH’-sihk), Arizona Highway Patrol, in interview)-“off the roadway”-State highway patrol officer Bill Westsik says there were dozens of calls about flooding on I-10. (8 Sep 2014)
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185-a-08-(Officer Bill Westsik (WEH’-sihk), Arizona Highway Patrol, in interview)-“with the rainwater”-State highway patrol officer Bill Westsik says there’s no way to be ready for flooding like this. (8 Sep 2014)
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183-a-11-(Rolando Valdez, resident, in interview)-“it’s just incredible”-Phoenix resident Rolando Valdez says the amount of flooding in the area is unbelievable. (8 Sep 2014)
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APPHOTO AZTUS201: Water washes over the car after the driver was rescued by members of Northwest Fire District north of Tucson, Ariz., on Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. The Phoenix and Tucson metro areas were hit by heavy rains, causing flooding and damage. More than 3 inches of rain closed parts of several Phoenix freeways. In Tucson, the National Weather Service recorded nearly 2 inches of rain. (AP Photo/Arizona Daily Star, Ron Medvescek) (8 Sep 2014)
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APPHOTO AZPHP107: Cars are underwater at 43rd Ave. and I-10 in the westbound lanes in Phoenix, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014, after record-setting rainfall caused massive flooding throughout the Valley. Heavy storms pounded the Phoenix area early Monday, flooding major freeways, prompting several water rescues and setting an all-time single-day record for rainfall in the desert city. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Tom Tingle) MARICOPA COUNTY OUT – NO MAGS- NO SALES – MANDATORY CREDIT (8 Sep 2014)
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APPHOTO AZPHP108: Traffic is stopped in the eastbound lanes of I-10 and cars are underwater at 43rd Ave. and I-10 in the westbound lanes in Phoenix, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014 after record-setting rainfall caused massive flooding throughout the Valley. More than 20 cars were stranded when fast rising water flooded the underpass. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Tom Tingle) (asterisk)(asterisk)(asterisk)MARICOPA COUNTY OUT – NO MAGS- NO SALES – MANDATORY CREDIT(asterisk)(asterisk)(asterisk) (8 Sep 2014)
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APPHOTO AZRS103: Floodwaters surge Monday, Sept. 8, 2014, in Scottsdale, Ariz. The remnants of Hurricane Norbert pushed into the desert Southwest and swamped Arizona Monday, breaking the previous record for rainfall in a single day in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) (8 Sep 2014)
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APPHOTO AZRS101: Cars drive by flooding Monday, Sept. 8, 2014, in Scottsdale, Ariz. The remnants of Hurricane Norbert pushed into the desert Southwest and swamped Arizona Monday, breaking the previous record for rainfall in a single day in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) (8 Sep 2014)
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