WINDOW ROCK — Dozens of Navajo Nation communities remain without electricity or running water after last week’s historic flooding, and muddy, washed-out roads are slowing repairs, KNAU reported.
The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority said it does not yet know when service will be fully restored. Power outages have been reported around Chinle, Tuba City and Fort Defiance, and some communities in Tuba City, Chinle, Dilkon, Crownpoint, Fort Defiance, Kayenta and Shiprock still lack water. NTUA said Tuesday it had restored power to more than 500 homes and businesses in Shiprock, N.M.
In Dennehotso, 30 families were forced to evacuate, according to Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren’s office. Officials have not reported any flood-related deaths.
In Rock Point, a low-lying village of 345 people beside Chinle Wash, chapter vice president Valinda Shirley told KNAU an incident command team warned that a storm expected Thursday or Friday could be as severe as last weekend’s. Residents are discussing levees, ditch repairs and sandbags.
A spokesperson for Gov. Katie Hobbs said the state is working with the Navajo Nation on response and recovery, including a potential federal disaster declaration if appropriate. New Mexico’s governor said Monday that a federal declaration was approved for northern New Mexico communities, including part of the Navajo Nation.
Residents with outages are asked to report them on the NTUA website.
Sources: KNAU, KNAU. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Milton Snow / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
