Floods Swamp the Arid Southwest, Forcing Evacuations and Altering Election Day Plans
More than 20 trillion gallons of rain have fallen on the Four Corners states and Nevada in two weeks, the AP reported Monday; one person died in Flagstaff floodwaters, a second death is suspected, and up to 4 more inches could fall through Monday.
A massive amount of water from unusually heavy rains is flowing through flood-weary parts of the Southwest, forcing evacuations and keeping swift-water rescue teams busy on the eve of Election Day, the Associated Press reported Monday.
More than 20 trillion gallons of water has fallen on the Four Corners states and Nevada in the past two weeks, according to calculations by former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief scientist Ryan Maue cited by the AP. One person died after falling into floodwaters in Flagstaff, Arizona, and police suspect a second death also is weather-related.
The National Weather Service estimates as much as 4 more inches of rain could fall across the Four Corners region through Monday, the AP reported — in desert country where hard, dry ground sheds water into washes and streets faster than it can soak in.
The flooding is altering Election Day plans in the affected region, the AP reported, one day before voters there join the rest of the country in deciding control of Congress in Tuesday's midterms.
