1970 — Sep 4-6, heavy rain, flash flooding, Four Corners Area, AZ (26), CO, NM, UT (2)-28

–28 Blanchard note: We show only the twenty-eight “direct” drowning deaths, and do not
include three possibly related indirect deaths noted by Roeske.
–28 Historical Marker Database. “The Great 1970 Rim Country Flood Disaster,” Accessed 3-11-2022.
–28 Roeske, et al. Floods of September 1970 in Arizona [UT, CO and NM] 1970, p. 1.
–26 Arizona
–23 Direct
— 3 Indirect
–2 “…plane crash apparently caused by inclement weather…”
–1 “…a cave entrance collapsed because of excessive ground moisture.”
— 2 Utah
–23 USGS. Summary of Significant Floods in the US, PR, and the VI, 1970-1989. 2008.

Arizona (26-27)
–28 Historical Marker Database. “The Great 1970 Rim Country Flood Disaster,” Accessed 3-11-2022.
–26 Roeske, et al. Floods of September 1970 in Arizona [UT, CO and NM] 1970, p. 1.
— 1 Christopher Creek; Christopher Ranch, drowning wading through water. (p.21)
— 1 New River, near Phoenix metro-area. Car stalled in floodwater’ man drowns. (p28)
— 3 Sycamore Creek flooding. (p. 25)
–1 Washed-out bridge 5M so. of Sunflower; State Hwy. patrolman. (p. 25)
–2 AZ hwy. 87. Stranded cars; elderly couple swept away, ~Sunflower. (p.26)
–14 Along Tonto Creek; house-trailers, campers, cars swept away. (p. 21)
–12 Cars washed away from bridge over Tonto Creek, Sep 5. (p. 21)

Utah ( 2)
— 2 McElmo Creek. Roeske, et al. Floods of September 1970 in [AZ, UT, CO and NM] 1970, p1.
Bridge approach washed out ~Aneth; vehicle plunged into McElmo Creek, drownings.(p34)
AZ couple drowned; car drove off washed-out bridge. Storm Data, 12/9, Sep 1970, 143.

Narrative Information

EDS/NOAA Storm Data on Arizona: “Arizona, central and south-central sections of State. 4, 5 & 6 [Sep]…Rain. Tropical storm Norma, located in the Pacific Ocean below Baja California, initiated a flow of Moist tropical air over the Gulf of California toward the desert Southwest on the afternoon of the 1st. This surge of moisture entered the State on the 2nd, over-spreading the State and increasing in depth during the next two days. On the morning of the 4th a convergent flow of air developed in the lower levels of the atmosphere in the Tucson area and south-southwestward to near Sasabe. This produced heavy precipitation along and east of the Baboquivari Mountains and northward to Tucson and the Avra Valley on that day. This heavy rainfall caused rapid runoff that washed out roads and several bridges near Tucson and flooded homes. On the 5th, strong southerly winds developed over much of Arizona causing heavy orographic precipitation, with heaviest amounts along south slopes of natural barriers in the southern part of the State. Precipitation along and to the south of the Mogollon Rim in Gila County and along the south slopes of the Bradshaw Mountains in Yavapai County was especially heavy on the 5th. Severe flooding in Christopher Creek, Tonto Creek and Sycamore Creek caused extensive damage to roads, bridges and property along these tributaries. Rainfall was also heavy in the Scottsdale area, where many homes were severely damaged by floodwaters. Flood damage in other parts of Maricopa County was scattered as far west as Wickenburg, where Hassayampa River overflowed its banks and flooded residential areas. Flooding also occurred along the Little Colorado River from Winslow to the Navajo Reservation. Agricultural damage was reported to range improvements such as fences, wells, stock-tanks, and corrals. Loss of cattle was light, as was damage to field crops. By the 6th, precipitation was limited mostly to the mountains in the south-eastern part of the State, but reported damage on that date was light relative to that occurring on the previous two days.” [No mention of any loss of human life.] (Storm Data, Vol. 12, No. 9, Sep. 1970, p. 134.)

Roeske, et. al./Floods of…: “During September 5-7, 1970, unusually large floods occurred in the mountains of central Arizona and in the Four Corners area of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. Flooding also occurred in southern and northeastern Arizona. The record-high rainfall of September 5 occurred when a mass of moist tropical air from Pacific storm Norma collided with a cold front from the northwest. A new 24-hour precipitation record of 11.40 inches (290 millimeters) was established for Arizona, and new 12- and 24-hour precipitation records of 6.0 inches (152 millimeters) were established for Utah.

“The flood took the lives of 23 persons and was reported to have caused about $8.4 million in damage in Arizona. The main area of flooding was in the mountains in central Arizona. The flood generally was less destructive with increasing distance downstream; in the Salt and Verde River basins the reservoirs were capable of storing all the floodwater.

“Flooding in the Dolores and San Juan River basins in the Four Corners area was mostly in rural areas, and two people were drowned in McElmo Creek in Utah. The flood was not as large as that of October 1911, which is the largest known flood in the area. A second storm occurred in the Four Corners area September 12-14; however, the amount of flooding generally was less than that from the previous storm. Flood damage as a result of the two storms was reported to be about $2.9 million…. [p. 1]
“….More rain fell on September 5, 1970, than on any other day in Arizona’s and Utah’s recorded weather history. A new 24-hour precipitation record was established for Arizona, and new 12- and 24-hour precipitation records were established for Utah. Although rain fell over most of Arizona and the More rain fell on September 5, 1970, than on any other day in Arizona’s and Utah’s recorded weather history. A new 24-hour precipitation record was established for Arizona, and new 12- and 24-hour precipitation records.” [pp. 1-2]

“Parts of Arizona and Colorado were declared flood disaster areas and were eligible for Federal aid. Flood damage was reported to be about $8.4 million in Arizona, and in the Four Corners area the damage from both storms was about $2.9 million. Most of the flooding occurred in rural areas and on national forest land; flood damage was minimized in downstream areas where the reservoirs impounded most of the floodwater….” [p. 3.] (Roeske, et al. Floods of September 1970 in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 205. 1970, Abstract.)

Roeske, et al. Summary of…: “During September 4-6, the “Four Corners” area of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah was subjected to monsoon-type thunderstorms that created flash floods over a large area. There were 23 deaths and $10 million in damages (Roeske and others, 1978). )

Newspapers

Sep 7, UPI/Tucson Daily Citizen: “Phoenix, Ariz. (UPI) – At least 15 persons were dead or missing in the wake of a violent weekend storm in Arizona and Utah which forced hundreds of persons from their homes and stranded holiday travelers. The storm was blamed for the flooding of McElmo Wash just north of the Arizona boundary near Aneth, Utah where two persons were missing and presumed drowned.

“The bodies of five unidentified persons were found yesterday in the swollen Tonto and Christopher Creeks near Payson, northeast of Phoenix. Authorities said an undetermined number of persons, as many as a dozen were missing. ‘We simply have no idea how many people are missing,’ said Sheriff’s deputy C. B. Haught of Payson. ‘We have no way of determining how many cars or people were swept away because there were so many campers in the area over the holiday. We receive more reports of missing persons every hour.’

“Divers continued searching from the bodies of Evart Bartholomew, 60; his wife, Elizabeth, 60, both of Phoenix; and Mrs. Ethel Parker, 65, Kalkaska, Mich. They were presumed drowned when their camper was washed away on the Apache Trail, a dirt road east of here. Also believed drowned were George Schabacker, 76, Phoenix, and Anthony Romera Leyva, Los Angeles, wose cars were caught by flash floods in arroyos.

“Arizona Highway patrolman Gilbert Duthie, 39, Mesa, was found dead in his overturned patrol car in a flooded wash between here and Payson.

“A Luke AFB helicopter and a sheriff’s jeep posse were dispatched to a mountainous area near Castle Hot Springs, northwest of Phoenix, where a missing plane was observed. A Civil Air Patrol spokesman said there were no signs of life around the aircraft, but the plane did not appear to be badly damaged. It disappeared after taking off for Lake Tahoe in the storm Saturday. Two persons were aboard.

“The raging Little Colorado River sent 120 persons from their homes at Holbrook and threatened the town of Winslow in northern Arizona. The river crested in Holbrook and was receding slightly, but authorities feared more flooding because of rain the mountains near Show Low and Springerville to the east. Ranchers were evacuated by boat from an area north of Winslow….Twenty-five homes in South Holbrook were evacuated after a dike broke….” (UPI. “At Least 15 Dead, Missing In Arizona, Utah Floods.” Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ, 9-7-1970, p. 1.)

Arizona Fatalities

1. Allen, Susie [Susan Leota ], 28, of Phoenix. (Payson Roundup, AZ. 9-10-1970.”)
2. Bartholomew, Elizabeth, 60, wife of Evart; camper washed away on Apache Trail.
3. Bartholomew, Evart [Everett ], 60, of Phoenix. ”
4. Campbell, Day Hamilton, 71.
5. Campbell, Mina L., 69.
6. Chandler, Sloan Carol, 5.
7. Chandler, Todd Michael, 3.
8. Conklin, Robert, 24.
9. Dickinson Mr. Arthur Ray, 59, husband of Maguerite. Missing. Sycamore Creek.
10. Dickinson, Mrs. Maguerite C., 55 of Payson; drowned; VW bus swept away.
11. Duthie, Gilbert, 39, of Mesa. AZ Highway patrolman. Water overturned patrol car.
12. Fellars, Nancy Jane, 34. [From Scottsdale, but went missing just over UT boarder.]
13. Fellars, Richard Dewey, 36.
14. Leyva, Anthony Romera, of Los Angeles. Car washed away by flash flooding.
15. MacDonald, Ina Randall, 34, wife of Kyle; drowned; car swept off Fish Hatchery Rd.
16. MacDonald, Kyle Riggs, 43; drowned when car swept off Fish Hatchery Rd.
17. MacDonald, Nan, 8, daughter of Ina and Kyle; drowned when car swept from road.
18. MacDonald, Kyle Randall, 6, son of Ina and Kyle.
19. MacDonald, Tempe Sue, 10, daughter of Ina and Kyle; drowned; car swept from road.
20. Morrow, Al. 57.
21. Parker, Mrs. Ethel, 65, of Kalkaska, MI; camper washed away on Apache Trail.
22. Rhodes, Beverly J., 33, wife of Moris. Drowned ~Payton; minivan washed away.
23. Rhodes, Moris Orval, 36. Drowned near Payton.
24. Rhodes, Eric, 8, child of Beverly and Moris.
25. Rhodes, Tara, 8, child of Beverly and Moris.
26. Rhodes, Tasha Rhodes, 10, child of Beverly and Moris.
27. Salz, Donald George, 48.
28. Schabacker, George, 72.

Sources

Arizona Republic, Phoenix. “Flood toll climbs, 13 dead, 12 missing.” 9-8-1970, p. 12. Accessed 3-11-2022 at: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23842535/kyle-mcdonald/

Associated Press. “Searchers Find Three More Victims of Flood.” The Dispatch, Douglas, AZ, 9-10-1970, p1. Accessed 3-11-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/douglas-dispatch-sep-10-1970-p-1/

Casemine.com. “Rhodes v. Republic National Insurance Co.” Accessed 3-11-2022 at: https://www.casemine.com/judgement/us/59149650add7b049345df0b0

Environmental Data Service, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 12, No. 9, Sep. 1970. Asheville, NC: NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce. Accessed 3-11-2022 at: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-E4B45BC1-24B5-45C5-8EFE-73661F02F5B1.pdf

Historical Marker Database. “The Great 1970 Rim Country Flood Disaster,” Accessed 3-11-2022. Accessed 3-11-2022 at: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=157859

McQuerrey, Teresa. “Memorial recalls tragedy of 1970 Labor Day flood.” Payson Roundup, 3-15-2017. Accessed 3-11-2022 at: https://www.paysonroundup.com/news/local/memorial-recalls-tragedy-of-1970-labor-day-flood/article_58ae1d02-e996-5321-9d5f-708835a1256f.html

Roeske, R. H., M. E. Cooley, and B. N. Aldridge. Floods of September 1970 in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico (Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 205. Silver Spring, MD: U.S. Department of Commerce. Printed by U.S. Government Printing Office, 1970.

The Dispatch, Douglas, AZ. “State’s Flood Toll Rises; 13 Dead, 14 Still Missing.” 9-8-1970, p. 1. Accessed 3-11-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/douglas-dispatch-sep-08-1970-p-1/

United Press International. “At Least 15 Dead, Missing In Arizona, Utah Floods.” Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ, 9-7-1970, p. 1. Accessed 3-11-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/tucson-daily-citizen-sep-07-1970-p-1/

United Press International. “Rains Kill 12 in Two States.” Albuquerque Journal, 9-7-1970, p. 1. Accessed 3-11-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/albuquerque-journal-sep-07-1970-p-1/

United States Geological Survey. Summary of Significant Floods in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, 1970 Through 1989 (Water-Supply Paper 2502). USGS Kansas Water Science Center, Sep 17, 2008. Accessed 11-12-2016 at: http://ks.water.usgs.gov/pubs/reports/wsp.2502.contents.html#HDR1