🚨 Flagstaff & Sedona Flood | Rio de Flag Overflows, Rooftop Rescues & State of Emergency

Flagstaff, Arizona just had the wettest November 1 in its recorded history. The Associated Press reports 5.15 inches of rain fell on the city over two days, with rain falling almost nonstop on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, flooding streets and overwhelming storm drains, on top of the second-wettest October on record. A 73-year-old man from New York was swept into floodwater rushing into a drainage tunnel and was found the next morning about 15 blocks away, and a second man was found dead in a stormwater drainage area on Monday; police say weather appears to have been a factor, pending the medical examiner. Just south, Oak Creek rose from about 3 feet to nearly 18 feet through Sedona (KNAU), trapping people in their homes and forcing rooftop rescues, and State Route 89A through Oak Creek Canyon was closed between Sedona and Kachina Village. In this video: how the rain built up, the Rio de Flag and Flagstaff's flood control project, the hotel workers who pulled a man from the same ditch hours earlier, 6 swift-water rescues and 1,000+ emergency calls, why drainage channels are so dangerous, the Flagstaff, Coconino County, Sedona and statewide emergency declarations, Sedona and Oak Creek, Oak Creek Canyon cut off, Arizona's record flood weekend (AZ DPS: 27 rescue missions, 20 rescued), and what happens now. Our thoughts are with the families of both men. Stay away from drainage ditches, culverts and washes after heavy rain, and never drive through flooded roads. Residents can report flood damage at flagstaffaz.gov; Red Cross shelter: Sinagua Middle School, 3950 E. Butler Ave. Sources: Associated Press, City of Flagstaff, FOX 10 Phoenix, KNAU, Arizona's Family, KTAR, KVOA, Arizona Daily Sun, Arizona DPS, National Weather Service Flagstaff, Office of Sen. Mark Kelly (2022 Rio de Flag letter). CHAPTERS: 0:00 Flagstaff's wettest day on record 1:23 How the rain built up 2:58 The Rio de Flag 4:26 The drainage ditch near the hotel 5:50 Rescues & 1,000+ emergency calls 7:19 Why drainage channels are so dangerous 8:45 Emergency declarations 10:24 Sedona & Oak Creek 11:50 Oak Creek Canyon cut off (SR 89A) 13:08 Arizona's record flood weekend 14:26 The second flood in two weeks 15:55 What happens now