Sedona residents hold onto pets and keys as flash floods trap them on rooftops

Residents in Sedona, Arizona, faced a sudden and dangerous evacuation order on Sunday as floodwaters rose rapidly in the Oak Creek basin. Officials instructed people living near the creek to leave their homes immediately after the water began to trap occupants inside.

The situation escalated quickly for Alexander Dale and his wife. Their residence and several short-term rental properties sit directly next to the creek bed. Dale stated that the couple and about nine guests climbed onto the roof of the home as the water level climbed. They remained there for approximately three hours before a helicopter arrived.

The rescue team initially hesitated to lift the family's dog. The pilot told Dale the crew lacked a specific harness for a K-9 unit. Dale asked what they should do. The couple decided against leaving the animal behind. They retrieved three harnesses from inside the house and strapped the dog securely to them. Dale held the dog while the pilot lifted them both to safety.

"I was sitting in this harness basically holding my dog, praying he doesn't go anywhere," Dale said.

Cindy Wilmer, a schoolteacher living at Red Rock Crossing, evacuated with minimal belongings. She left with only the shirt on her back, her school keys, and her cat. "The water was just roaring down the street," Wilmer said. "I'm worried about my house."

Fernando Leon also fled his home in Oak Creek. He opened his front door to find the river outside. "Whoa, I need to get out of here," Leon said. He described the abrupt shift from normal life to emergency evacuation as a sad feeling. By Sunday afternoon, the heavy rains had mostly stopped in the area.

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs confirmed that state air rescue crews assisted with the rooftop evacuations. State transportation crews worked to clear debris from the roads. Officials reported no injuries or deaths immediately after the flooding event.