09/22/2026
LIFE SAFETY IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY
DO NOT ENTER FLOODWATERS
Please remind all community members:
Never drive, walk, or attempt to cross actively flowing water, flooded roads, washes, arroyos, ditches, or low-lying areas.
Flash flooding can occur with little or no warning, even when rainfall is occurring miles away.
Just a few inches of moving water can knock a person off their feet, and floodwaters can quickly sweep away vehicles.
Stay away from washes and drainage channels during and after storms.
Keep children, elders, and livestock away from flood-prone areas.
Turn Around, Don't Drown. No destination is worth risking a life.
UNDERSTAND WEATHER ALERTS
Flash Flood Watch: Conditions are favorable for flooding. Be prepared to act.
Flash Flood Warning: Flash flooding is occurring or imminent. Move to higher ground immediately and take protective action.
PREPARE BEFORE TRAVELING
We strongly encourage all community members to:
Check weather conditions before departing.
Monitor forecasts through the National Weather Service (NWS) at www.weather.gov and other reliable weather sources.
Identify emergency contacts and evacuation routes within their local area.
Carry emergency supplies including water, food, medications, flashlights, batteries, and communication devices.
Notify family members of travel plans when traveling through remote areas.
Be prepared to delay travel when weather conditions become hazardous.
CHECK ON VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
Chapters are encouraged to identify and monitor:
Isolated families with limited or no road access.
Elders living alone.
Individuals with disabilities or mobility challenges.
Families requiring access to medical care or essential services.
At this time, reports involving isolated families with no access due to flooding represent our highest priority concern.
BEFORE THE FLOOD: PREPARE NOW
Gather Emergency Supplies
Maintain at least three days of:
Drinking water (one gallon per person per day)
Non-perishable food
Prescription medications
First aid supplies
Flashlights and batteries
Blankets and personal necessities
Livestock feed and pet food
Secure Your Property
Clear culverts, drainage channels, and ditches where safe to do so.
Secure outdoor items that can be displaced by flooding or high winds.
Move vehicles, equipment, and livestock to higher ground.
Prepare Your Household
Review emergency plans and evacuation routes.
Charge phones and backup batteries.
Store important documents in waterproof containers.
Stay Connected
Check on neighbors, elders, and vulnerable households.
Save local emergency and first responder contact information.
Share weather updates and emergency information with family members.
DURING THE FLOOD: STAY SAFE
Be Ready to Act Quickly
Move to higher ground immediately if flooding threatens your area.
Identify safe routes to higher ground and share them with family members.
Keep an emergency go-bag readily available.
Do not attempt to retrieve belongings from floodwaters.
Keep children and pets away from flooded areas.
Avoid Dangerous Areas
Never drive or walk through flooded roads or washes.
Stay away from slot canyons, arroyos, drainage channels, ditches, and other low-lying areas.
Exercise extreme caution near burn scar areas and locations prone to rapid flooding.
Protect Vulnerable Areas
Communities near burn scars should be especially alert, as flash flooding can occur even during light rainfall.
Urban and developed areas with poor drainage can flood rapidly.
AFTER THE FLOOD: STAY ALERT
Avoid contact with floodwaters as they may be contaminated or electrically charged.
Report damage to your Chapter and appropriate authorities.
Check on neighbors, especially elders and individuals with limited mobility.
Continue monitoring weather conditions as additional storms may occur before recovery efforts begin.
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
If there is an immediate threat to life, stranded individuals requiring rescue, medical emergencies, vehicle occupants trapped by floodwaters, or isolated families needing emergency assistance, please contact:
911
Local Law Enforcement
Navajo DOT road crews are not emergency rescue personnel and cannot perform emergency rescue operations.
NAVAJO DOT RESPONSE STATUS
Due to safety concerns for Navajo DOT staff and equipment, we cannot perform road repairs while water is actively flowing, pooled, or when road conditions remain excessively saturated and muddy.
Attempting repairs under current conditions could:
Place personnel at risk.
Damage equipment.
Cause vehicles to become stuck.
Further deteriorate already damaged roadways.
For these reasons, Navajo DOT will not be able to respond to certain locations until routes have sufficiently dried and conditions allow for safe operations.
At this time:
There is no declared State of Emergency.
All reports will be assessed and prioritized based on severity.
Human life and public safety remain our highest priority.
Response efforts will be prioritized based on:
Threats to public safety.
Isolated families without access.
Accessibility of affected areas.
Regional transportation routes.
Crew and equipment availability.
Recommendations from Navajo DOT Roads and Road Maintenance Districts.
Where possible, Navajo DOT crews will work first to make roadways passable. Permanent repairs and restoration efforts will be completed when weather and ground conditions improve and in coordination with the appropriate agencies and departments.
ROAD DAMAGE REPORTING
We encourage all Chapters to continue submitting work orders and damage reports.
When submitting a work order, please provide:
GPS coordinates (most valuable information)
Route number
Chapter name and location
Description of damage
Current road conditions
Clear photographs documenting the issue
Whether the road is passable, partially passable, or impassable
Do not place yourself in danger to obtain photographs, measurements, or documentation.
Please submit reports through your Agency Planner and provide a copy to Christina Hardy at [email protected]
The information will be relayed to the appropriate Road Maintenance District and coordinated, as necessary, with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Branch of Transportation, State Department of Transportations, and Counties for routes under their ownership and maintenance responsibility.
While route numbers may not always be visible in photographs, images remain a valuable tool for documenting conditions and assisting staff with prioritization and response planning.
ROAD OWNERSHIP REMINDER
Please note that not all roads within the Navajo Nation are maintained by Navajo DOT. Some routes may fall under the jurisdiction of:
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
County governments
State transportation agencies
Federal agencies
Navajo DOT will coordinate with the appropriate transportation entity when necessary.
RESPONSE EXPECTATIONS
We respectfully ask for patience as our Roads Department addresses numerous reports from across the Navajo Nation.
Due to the widespread nature of current storm impacts, response times may be longer than normal. Crews will address locations based on:
Public safety considerations
Accessibility
Severity of damage
Available resources
Regional transportation needs
Chapters can assist by:
Continuing to submit work orders.
Providing accurate GPS coordinates and route information.
Reporting isolated households and emergency access concerns.
Sharing weather and safety information with community members.
This information helps Navajo DOT identify problem areas, monitor changing conditions, and allocate resources where they are needed most.
FINAL MESSAGE
Human life and public safety remain our highest priorities during this period of widespread flooding.
Please encourage all community members to remain weather-aware, monitor National Weather Service forecasts, identify emergency contacts within their area, avoid flooded roads and washes, and delay travel when conditions are unsafe.
A multi-day heavy rainfall event is set to begin across New Mexico into west Texas Tuesday through Wednesday. Flash flooding and debris flows in the vicinity of burn scars will also be possible. A strong coastal low will develop offshore of the Mid-Atlantic coast midweek, bringing heavy rainfall, st...
