Arizona’s historic mining town of Globe faced a devastating deluge as torrential rains led to severe flooding, tragically resulting in the loss of four lives. The disaster unfolded as relentless floodwaters swept through, forcing residents to seek refuge on rooftops and scattering roughly 1,000 propane tanks across the downtown area.
Globe, a city of approximately 7,250 residents located 88 miles east of Phoenix, experienced around 2.5 inches of rainfall on Friday. A subsequent storm on Saturday momentarily interrupted ongoing search efforts for potential missing persons.
Gila County’s emergency manager, Carl Melford, reported that two individuals were discovered deceased in a vehicle while another was found in the floodwaters in Globe. Their identities remain undisclosed.
Elsewhere, in suburban Phoenix, authorities located another deceased person on Saturday morning. The individual was found near a vehicle that had been caught in floodwaters the previous night, according to the Scottsdale Fire Department. The vehicle was found partially submerged in approximately 8 feet of swift water within a greenbelt park area, with the body discovered beneath a walkway bridge once water levels receded.
Miami, a nearby mining town, also suffered street flooding on Saturday, but no injuries were reported, Melford confirmed.
Meanwhile, around 20 tourists stranded in the Havasupai Indian Reservation, including at the picturesque Havasu Falls, were evacuated due to the flooding, according to Shaileen Gonzales, a dispatcher with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Melford noted that reports of potential missing persons in Globe, one of Arizona’s oldest mining towns, prompted a full-scale search and rescue operation. “We now have a massive search and rescue underway,” he stated.
Jessica Weider, a Globe resident, expressed the community’s response: “You know, we’ve had a lot of volunteers trying to come out and help everyone who has been impacted by this storm but as of right now due to the fatalities, they’re asking everyone to stand back as they try to recover the bodies that they’re finding,” she said.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs declared a state of emergency in response to the flooding in Gila County. “I’m heartbroken by the devastation in Gila County, my thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones and the residents whose lives have been impacted,” Hobbs said. “This declaration is a commitment to the people of Gila County that Arizona will deliver every resource available to help. We will continue to work around the clock to ensure communities throughout Gila County that have been impacted by devastating flooding have the support they need to protect life and property.”
The flooding in Gila County has caused heartbreaking loss and serious damage. I’ve declared a State of Emergency to ensure resources are available immediately and that every impacted community gets the support they need to recover and rebuild.
— Governor Katie Hobbs (@GovernorHobbs) September 27, 2025
Floodwaters surged into downtown Globe on Friday, with one of the initial casualties being a propane tank distributor. Melford described the scene, stating, “There’s propane tanks everywhere through downtown Globe,” and reassured that hazmat teams were on-site. “Luckily none of them ignited or exploded.”
Globe’s Mayor, Al Gameros, emphasized the priority of search and rescue operations within the waterways. A public safety alert urges residents to steer clear of the city’s historic downtown due to unstable structures and hazardous materials, including the displaced propane tanks. “They’re all downtown. They’re in residential areas. I was told this morning there’s probably over a thousand bottles that were released out of this facility to the south of the city because the water got that high,” he explained.
Authorities have reached out to various entities, including the governor’s office, following the calamity. The region had previously dealt with flooding in 2021 after a wildfire, but Melford noted the unprecedented severity of the recent event. “This was an extremely heavy amount of rain in an extremely short period of time,” he remarked.
The American Red Cross in Arizona has set up evacuation shelters at High Desert Middle School and Lee Kornegay Intermediate School in Miami.
Social media footage depicts vehicles in Globe being swept away by rushing water, while large propane tanks lay scattered. Authorities are urging residents to avoid entering floodwaters. Search and rescue teams, accompanied by dogs, might mistake the scent of volunteers for potential victims. Melford suggested that those willing to assist should start by helping neighbors and friends in need.
In response to the unprecedented flooding, the Globe City Council declared an emergency, noting the community’s mobilization of volunteers and the extensive damage to downtown buildings. Officials have requested people to stay away until safety can be assured.
“Our primary, again, is search and rescue,” Gameros reiterated.
EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this story from The Associated Press misspelled Globe Mayor Al Gameros’ name.
